Virgil ‘Gene’ Eugene Niffen

Virgil “Gene” Eugene Niffen, 74, of Forsyth passed on to his maker on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m.,, at VFW Post 5553 Hall, located at 505 VFW Road, Bowling Green.

He was born on Aug. 6, 1943 to Virgil Harold and Maggie Eudora Chandler Niffen. Gene joined the Army in 1961 and served during Vietnam. He had been stationed in Germany, where he met Heide Hofmann. They were married July 16, 1966 in Schweinfurt, Germany . Gene was a life time member of the VFW and the DAV. Gene retired from the Electric Wheel, a Division of Bridgestone/ Firestone, in Quincy, Ill.

He was a member and Committee Man for the United Auto Worker Local 210 (UAW) in Quincy, IL. Gene was family oriented and loved nature. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Gene is survived by his wife of 51 ½ years, Heide Niffen of the home; three sisters, Betty White and husband, Doss of Pleasant Hill, Ill., Bonnie Smith and husband, Darrell of Louisiana, and Gina Miller of Kansas City; four brothers, Rossie Niffen and wife, Bertha, and Glenn Niffen and wife, Anita, all of Bowling Green, Richard Niffen of Louisiana, and Joey Niffen and fiancé, Anna Noelken of Warrenton; sister-in-law, Christel Johnston, of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, Fritz and Monika Hofmann, and Juergern and Silvia, Hofmann, both of Germany. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents, Ross and Lillan Niffen, and James and Dora Chandler.

Cremation services have been entrusted to Whelchel Grace Funeral Home.