Eugene Morgan "Gene" Rosine (90) of Metamora, formerly of East Peoria

Eugene Morgan "Gene" Rosine, 90, of Metamora, formerly of East Peoria, passed away on June 17, 2023 at Snyder Village in Metamora.

He was born October 6, 1932 in Strasburg (Shelby County) to Charles Rudolph & Mamie (Morgan) Rosine. He married Ruth Carolyn Hoey on October 1, 1955 in Peoria.

He is survived by his wife; daughter, Michelle (Dirk) McGuire; and son, Michael J. Rosine, both of East Peoria; his grandchildren, Robert (Amanda) Ivey , Carolyn (Levi) Harms, Kathryn McGuire, and Kyle Morgan Rosine; and his great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Katelyn, Dakota, Caiden, Callen, Oliver, Bradley, Haydenn, Kaya, Dante, Damien and Desmond.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles J. and William Rosine; sisters, Rosabelle Mathis, Martha Mathis and Marilyn Schultz.

Gene graduated from Strasburg Community High School in 1950 after a very successful baseball season striking out 27 hitters in one game. He was recruited by Caterpillar in June of 1950 to pitch for the baseball team, The Tractors, playing teams from other companies, the Kansas City Monarchs and the House of David.

He was called to duty in the U.S. Army 3rd Armored, 1st Cavalry, 70th Tank Battalion in Japan from 1952 to 1954. Upon his return he continued to work for Caterpillar and played ball on the Sunday Morning League until 1958.

He operated several Phillips 66 & Texaco service stations in the East Peoria area, then owned Rosine’s Texaco in East Peoria from 1960 to 1976. He returned to Caterpillar for several years, opened Rosine’s 66 in Hanna City from 1982 to 1986 and last worked for John Bearce Ford until his retirement.

Gene was a founding member of River Valley Sportsmen’s Club in East Peoria and Rocky Meadow Sportsman’s Club in Fulton County. An avid hunter, fisherman, trap shooter, mushroom hunter, golfer, bowler and Cub Fan. He was a former member of the Elk’s Club, Lions Club, Abbas Grotto and the Hilton Masonic Lodge, Charter Member of Northern Tazewell Ducks Unlimited and a 40 year member of the Fondulac Couple’s Golf League.

He was an accomplished wood carver of decoys, Santa Claus, and mushrooms, enjoyed reloading shotgun shells and golf ball hunting. In his retirement years he and Ruth enjoyed traveling the world, wintering in Florida and attending their grand and great-grandchildren’s activities. PeePaw will be greatly missed by all of his great grandchildren but remembered for his love of family, baseball, orange slices, Root Beer, Iced Oatmeal cookies, spaghetti, his witty remarks, generous heart, ability to sniff out morel mushrooms, and patience with a fishing line in the water.

A memorial service will be held at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm with a visitation from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Military Graveside services immediately following at Fondulac Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Saturday at the River Valley Sportsmen’s Club on 113 E. Lucille Street in East Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Northern Tazewell Ducks Unlimited send in care of Bill Hartter at 767 Grange Road, Washington, IL 61571.

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