Gene W. Kirkham, 97, passed away on Friday, February 9, 2024 at the Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home in Payson, Utah.  A lifelong resident of Lehi, Gene was born November 22, 1926, to Glida LaRae West and Fred O'dell Kirkham.

Gene joined the Navy and found himself on a train to Farragut, Idaho for basic training on his 17th birthday.  He spent most of his enlistment on the ship Hansford—APA106 in the South Pacific and was discharged in May of 1946.  Once back in Lehi, Gene held a variety of jobs including driving a delivery truck for Bradshaw Auto Parts in Salt Lake City.  However, it was not until his mother suggested he think about a technical training course to become a machinist, that he found his life-long career. The facility where he received his training would eventually become Utah Technical College at Provo and later, Utah Valley University.  Once his training was completed, Gene was hired at Geneva Steel Works as a machinist where he was employed until he retired.

Upon returning home from the service, Gene courted the sister of his two childhood buddies, Valno and Ronald Peterson.  He and Lou Gene married on November 6, 1946.

Gene loved the soil.  When he wasn't working shift work at Geneva Steel you could find him on a tractor helping out the local farmers by plowing, planting, baling hay or cutting corn.  He was a regular cow hand in the fall driving down the cattle from West Canyon before the deer hunt.

He joined the Lehi Volunteer Fire Department and faithfully attended the Wednesday night fire drills for thirty years. Gene and several other firemen initiated the first Lehi Fireworks display that has become an annual city event. They received safety training from professionals in the field and were in demand to train and assist other cities along the Wasatch Front with their fireworks events.

He and Lou Gene were also members of the Civic Improvement Association and looked forward to selling tickets each year at the Lehi Roundup Celebration.  Gene pumped gas part-time at Pog Wanlass's service station on East Main and maintained a home shoe repair business for some thirty-plus years.  He was also the Westside Watermaster for the Lehi Irrigation Company and later transitioned to the Utah Lake Distributing Company canal west of the Jordan River for another four years.

Following his retirement from Geneva, Gene fulfilled the life-long dream of running a truck farm.  He plowed under the acreage surrounding his home on 700 South and turned it into an amazingly productive vegetable garden.  Folks would pull off the road to watch the miracles Gene and Mother Nature would perform starting in the early spring as he planted seed and transplants. The show would continue through late October with harvest after harvest.  Every vegetable from Asparagus to Zucchini grew in abundance and his produce was always in demand.

A generous man, he never forgot local widows and single-parent families over the years.  Sacks of fall potatoes and other root crops would be delivered to those in need.  Gene also kept chickens and would deliver eggs to family and friends throughout the years.

Following Lou Gene's passing, Gene eventually married his sweetheart Jan Jonsson on September 11, 2010, in Lehi Utah. They had 13 wonderful love-filled years together. Gene and Jan lived in Lehi where they enjoyed their time together both at home and at the Lehi Senior Citizens Center. Seldom was there a time when you would find them separated. They enjoyed trips to the St. George Tuacahn Theater productions and spending time with family. Gene would brighten up when any of his family would come to call.

Jan would like to extend a special thanks to the Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veteran's Home in Payson, Utah. The care and comfort they provided Gene and family in his last days was truly a remarkable act of kindness. She would also like to thank Dignity Home Health and Hospice and Bristol Hospice for the amazing personal love and care they offered the family during this time.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lou Gene, his two sisters; LaRae Lewis and Jeneal Meyer, his son; Danny Gene Kirkham, a great-grandson; Rustin Kirkham, and his bonus son, Steven Estes.

He is survived by his wife Jan, his children Peggy Lou (Michael) Williams, daughter-in- law Kay Lynn Kirkham, Laurelee (Sam) Nozumi, and Glade W. (Judy) Kirkham, 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Jan's three sons: Darwin (Sara), Jeremy (Angie), and Richard (Amy) Estes along with 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held at Wing Mortuary on February 19, 2024 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Following the viewing, a graveside service including full Navy Military honors, will be held in the Lehi City Cemetery at 11 a.m.