Eugene Joseph Calmes

Eugene Joseph Calmes, 80, of Gibsonburg died after a long illness and surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at his home. He was born on July 12, 1928 in Oak Harbor, OH to Lawrence Cornelius and Annabelle Catherine (Ochs) Calmes. Eugene joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945 at the age of 17 and served for 11 years, having spent his service career as a lanyard radar operator in the Philippines, Japan and the Boston area. While in Boston, Eugene met his future wife, Margaret Priscilla Maher. Eugene & Margaret were married in Massachusetts on July 21, 1951 and had been together for 57 years at the time of his death. Eugene & Margaret settled in Fremont, Ohio in 1956, where Eugene worked for Whirlpool Corp. for a short time. He started working for the Fremont Post Office in 1957 and was a mail carrier there until his retirement in 1982. After his retirement he worked as a driver for Warner Trucking for 3 years and drove a school bus for the Gibsonburg Exempted School District for 4 years. Eugene was a very caring and outgoing man who always put his family first. He received an Associates Degree in Real Estate from the Univ. of Tiffin and was an avid learner his whole life. He loved nature and spent many hours on his patio watching all the birds that gathered around his bird feeders. Eugene is survived by sons, John (Cindy) Calmes of Fremont, Eugene Calmes, II of Gibsonburg, Timothy (Sue) Calmes of Fremont, Christopher (Kelly) Calmes of Fremont; daughters, Deborah Calmes Rheinholtz of Helena and Teresa Calmes of Gibsonburg; sister Anita (Leroy) Wasserman of Helena; half-sisters Mildred Wilferth of Georgia & Marjorie Calmes of Colorado; 7 grandsons, 5 granddaughters, 1 great granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, all of his aunts and uncles, infant brother Robert Calmes, granddaughter Janelle Marie Calmes, nephew David Eugene Wasserman, foster parents Jack & Ida Washburn, half-brother Lawrence August Bud Calmes, half-sisters Mary Rita Ackley & Agnes Wanda Calmes (infant). A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, March 6th at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Rev. Ted Miller officiating. A luncheon will be held at the Fremont Moose starting at 12:30 following the service.

The family requests any memorials may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.