ADVANCE, Mo. -- Forest "Gene" Reutzel Sr., 81, of Advance passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 8, 1927, son of Lester and Mable Followell Reutzel.

Gene retired as a pipeline welder. He was a 1946 graduate of Advance High School. He was a member of Advance United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of Advance Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Gene and Virginia Mayle were united in marriage Dec. 15, 1949, in Cumberland, Md.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Gene (Linda) Reutzel Jr. and George (Denise) Reutzel, all of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Sherry Reutzel Anthony of Advance; a brother, Richard Reutzel of Advance; a sister, Donna McCormick of Benton, Ill.; five grandchildren; Griffin Reutzel, Bailey Reutzel and Aja Reutzel, all of Cape Girardeau, Jamie Anthony of Dexter, Mo., Cinnamon Dockery of Advance; four great-grandchildren; Forest Martin of Cape Girardeau, Aaron Arnold and Austin Arnold of Advance and Kaitlyn Reutzel of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Morgan Funeral Home. A Masonic service will be held at 4.

The funeral will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sarah Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield with full military rites.