Virgil ‘Gene’ Eugene Niffen

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

Cremation services have been entrusted to Whelchel Grace Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

He was born 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 committeeman for the United Auto Worker Local 210 (UAW) in Quincy, Ill.

Gene was family oriented and loved nature. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He 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 Hofmann and wife, Monika and Juergern Hofman and wife Silvia, 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.