Eugene "Gene" Hayden

Eugene Raymond “Gene” Hayden, age 56, of Durand, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2012 as a result of injuries sustained while working on his farm. He was born on January 6, 1956 in Durand one of 11 children born to Marie (Wittig) Hayden and the late Walter Hayden. Gene attended Lima and Durand Schools, graduated with the Durand High School class of 1974. On May 22, 1976 Gene was united in marriage to Donalynn “Dondi” Nyre at Central Lutheran Church in Mondovi. To this loving union three children were born. Gene and his family were members of Central Lutheran church in Mondovi for many years. For several years Gene was the captain of the Central Lutheran dart ball team. Gene was a twenty-five year employee of Midwest Manufacturing in Eau Claire. Following his employment with Midwest Manufacturing, Gene began his employment at Northland Buildings of Eau Claire until the present time. Gene was a man who will be remembered for his true love of the outdoors. If anyone would need to find Gene, it wasn’t hard, just go outside and you’ll find him either in the woods or by his buildings on the Wittig family farm. He was proud to have taught his children and grandchildren how to appreciate the love of the outdoors, both hunting and fishing or cutting wood. He and his wife Dondi enjoyed time vacationing in Mexico. What Gene will be mostly remembered for is the deep love and devotion he had for his entire family. Gene will be deeply missed by the love of his life and best friend, his wife, Dondi of Durand; three loving children, Trevor(Julie) Hayden of Rock Falls, Darcy (Jeff) Davidson of Mondovi and Ryan Hayden of Durand; three very precious grandchildren, Hunter, Connor and Lillie; his mother, Marie Hayden of Durand; his siblings, Carol (Bob) Cornish of Green Bay, Sue Bauer of River Falls, Harry (Betty) Hayden of Menomonie Falls, John (Barb) Hayden of Cedarburg ,WI, George (Sally) Hayden of Mondovi, Dan (Diane) Hayden of Delafield, Barb (Bill) Zabel of Elk Mound, Tom (Joni) Hayden of Owensboro, KY, Connie (Marty) Pittman of Hudson and Rick (Patti) Hayden of Durand; also by his mother in law, Donna Nyre, sister in law, Diane (Dennis) Schultz, brother in law Dave (Jeanne) Nyre, Jr., and by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and countless friends. Gene was preceded in death by his father, Walter, father in law, David Nyre, Sr. and sister in law, Dorothy Nyre. A funeral service to celebrate the life of Gene will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at Central Lutheran Church at 1:00 PM with Pastor Rolf Morck officiating. Inurnment will be at the Naples Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 9 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Poeschel-Talbot Funeral Home of Mondovi and again on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Online memories and words of comfort may be sent to www.talbotfuneralhomes.com.