A Private Immediate Family Only Funeral Services for 89-year old Gene Held of Fontanelle, will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Iowa, at 10:30 a.m. with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service. The Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfuenrals.com.
Gene’s funeral service will be live-streamed for the public on the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Facebook page.
An open visitation without the family present will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021, at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the Bridgewater Fire Department, Fontanelle Fire Department or to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.
Eugene Frederick Held was born June 28, 1931 in Eureka Township, Adair County, Iowa, the son of Erwin Marx and Ella Elsie (Neumann) Held. He passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Iowa, at the age of 89.
Gene attended country school and graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1949. He was a lifelong active member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. His confirmation memory verse was 1 Timothy 4:8, Godliness is profitable unto all things, loving promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. He was an active member of the Fontanelle Lions Club and had been a Jackson Township Trustee for over 50 years.
On January 19, 1952, he was united in marriage to Jane South in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. To this union four sons were born: Steven, Jim, Tim and Patrick. In 1953, he moved to the farm. He worked for the State of Iowa with the S.C.S. and part time inspector for Adair County Mutual. He enjoyed being with his family and time spent in town with friends. He loved coffee time especially making coffee and popcorn at the Coop in Fontanelle. He was a lifetime resident of Adair County.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jane Held in 2012 and brother, Tobe Held.
He is survived by his four sons, Steve Held and wife Sue Breen-Held of Des Moines, Jim Held and wife Brenda of Lowell, Arkansas, Tim Held (Kathi Robinson) of Norwalk and Pat Held and wife Linda of Fontanelle; eleven grandchildren; Marc Held and wife Jessica, Lucas Held and wife Kirstyn, Amy Harms, Eric Held (Angie Landers), Matthew Held and wife Taylor, Amanda Held (Andy Miller), Gena Ward and husband Philip, Ellen Linkenhoker and husband Joshua, Tyler Held, Megan Held (Joe Zayac) and Cara Held (Christian Albaugh); great grandchildren, Grace, Isaac, Payge, Katie, Spencer, Jacob, Travis, Hailey, Addison, Kaydence, Mitchell, Nicholas, Rheagun, Chase, Paiton, Alivia and Kenzie; other relatives and friends.
