Rev. James Eugene "Gene" Hart
Rev. James E. “Gene” Hart, 90, died on Jan, 5, 2019, at 1:15 a.m. at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna.
He is home now in Heaven rejoicing and celebrating with His Savior and loved ones.
He was born on Aug. 10, 1928, the eldest of 12 children born to James and Edna Krueger Hart in Jerseyville.
He is survived by daughter, Sandra (Glen) Gibbons of Marion; a son, Brent (Deena) Hart of Tamms; a son-in-law, Tim Hendershott of Cape Girardeau; granddaughters Stephanie (Dan) Little of Marion, Alexis (Micah Sardell) Gibbons of Eugene, Ore., and Ella Grace Hart of Tamms; grandsons Clinton Hendershott of Jackson, Mo., and Kirk (Trisha) Hendershott of Unionville, Mo.; great-grandchildren Haydan and Haylee Little, Caedan Hendershott, Konner and Kellan Hendershott; sisters, Marcella (Dale) Lance of McLeansboro, Marcia Dee Moore of Carrollton, Ga., Donna (John) Naas of McLeansboro, Joyce (Kent) Ewing of Granite Canon, Wyo., and Linda Trommer of Plymouth, Mich.; brothers Richard (Phyllis) Hart of Fulton, Ky., and Larry (Dixie) Hart of Livingston, Mont.; a brother-in law, Robert Lee of McLeansboro; a sister-in-law, Mary Hart of Cheyenne, Wyo.; many nieces and nephews; and members of his wife’s family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Maudie Lou; a daughter, Debra Lynn Hendershott; infant twin sons, Wendell Dean and Randell Gene Hart; sisters Shirley Lee and Barbara Sue Hart; brothers Edward Hart and Marvin Lee Hart; and brothers-in-law, Jack Moore and Paul Trommer.
Being the eldest, Gene took on many responsibilities and chores as a young boy. At age 7, he was hunting for food with his gun. At age 9, his dad would drop him off to plow a field with a horse on 100 acres on his Grandma Brake’s place. His dad would then work construction for a $1 an hour. Before age 12, he would drive a team of horses pulling a wagon to Dahlgren with cream, eggs and his Mom’s grocery list.
He attended grade school near Dahlgren in a one-room schoolhouse and Hamilton County High School, and then later attended and graduated from Clarke Memorial College in Newton, Miss., in 1964.
In 1950, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. One defining moment with the possibility of not coming home alive, he made his peace with His Savior and accepted Jesus as Lord of his life.
The Army processed him at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and he was then transported to Camp Carson, Colo., for basic training. He was placed in the 222 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company. He shipped out to Japan and served there from 1951 to 1952. He returned to the United States and was discharged from the Army.
Gene was a hard-working man and held many jobs over the span of his life. He worked for the Soo Line Railroad out of Chicago. He worked on building the Joppa Power Plant. He served as an ordained minister from 1956 until 2009 and then continued to supply in various Southern Illinois churches.
He was a 52-year member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and retired as mason’s assistant for Rathert Masonry.
In 1954, he met Maudie Lou Clinton and married her in January 1955. He surrendered to the Gospel Ministry and was ordained on Oct. 10, 1956, at Lake Milligan Baptist Church in Miller City.
During his ministry he pastored at Unity Baptist Church, Unity (May 1957 to December 1959), Mill Creek Baptist Church, Mill Creek (January 1960 to August 1961), Rock Branch Baptist Church, Union, Miss. (February 1962 to May 1964), Immanuel Baptist Church, Cobden (May 1964 to February 1972), First Baptist Church, Tamms (February 1972 to October 1985), New Hope Baptist Church, Buncombe (January 1986 to April 1992), and Lockard Chapel Baptist Church, Jonesboro (May 1992 to October 2009).
He was a beloved husband, brother, Dad and Pappa. His service to the Southern Illinois area has touched many lives and he will be deeply missed by family and friends.
Today you read that Gene Hart is dead. Don’t you believe it. At this moment he is more alive than ever. He has gone higher...His physical birth in 1928 and his Spiritual birth in 1951. “That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.” Prayer is that you are ready to live forever with the Lord Almighty.
Funeral services for Rev. Gene Hart will be Saturday, Jan. 19, at noon at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Interment will be in Green Lawn Cemetery in Villa Ridge.
Friends can call from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 19, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.
Memories and stories, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Memorials can be made to the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna.
To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.