Eugene S Dumdei

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
507-388-2288

Eugene Sievert Dumdei, age 88, of North Mankato, died unexpectedly Monday, February 17, 2014.

Memorial visitation will be held Friday, February 21, 2014 from 3 " 6 p.m. at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary. Burial will be at a later date in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Eugene Sievert Dumdei was born on January 7, 1926, on the family farm in McPherson Township, Blue Earth County to Frank and Augusta (Sievert) Dumdei. He attended school District 76, until the school house burned down on his birthday, when he was in the 6th grade! He then went to Lutheran Parochial School in Janesville. Through the 8th grade. After District consolidation, and bus service, he attended St. Clair High School and graduated with honors in 1943. In the fall of 1943 he enlisted in the US Navy Reserve, and left for "Boot Camp" at Farragut, Idaho, on January 5th 1944. His service took him to Memphis, Tennessee to Aviation Radio School, then to Purcell, Oklahoma to Aviation Gunnery School, graduation with honors in October of 1944. From October 1944 to February 28th 1945, he took operational training with VB-74 (Bombing Squadron) at Coeil Field, Jacksonville, FL. Then assigned to Radar School at Grosse Isle, Michigan, before training at Otis Field, Mass. in the summer of 1945 waiting for assignment on the NGU Carrier being built at Norfolk, VA, the USS Midway. He joined the carrier on September 10th 1945 (Six days after Japan surrendered) as a "Plank Owner". November 1st to December 12th he took him to Guantanamo Bay Cuba for Shakedown Cruise with flights around and over Haiti. February and March found him o Operation Frostbite in the North Atlantic, testing winter survival gear among the iceberg and swollen seas. Then back to Norfolk awaiting discharge, with enough points, to get out on May 19th, 1946

In January, 1947, he took advantage of the G. I. Bill and spent over three years at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, graduating in June 1950. He met Jacqueline Gilbert and on November 24, 1951, they were married in St. Paul, Minnesota. They lived in Mankato for 10 years before moving to North Mankato in 1961, to Harrison Ave. where they raised their six children. One girl and five boys.

Eugene was Cub master for Pack 29 in North Mankato for six years, and after holding various jobs, with Clements, Auto Co., Minnegasco, Prudential Insurance and Brett's, he became an independent drapery and blinds installer with various companies until semi-retirement at the age of 62. Still installing at age 87!

From 1991 to present he has been chief correspondent for the USS Midway for ex crew members once totaling 31, now down to less than 10. He and Jackie were present at the opening of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA on June 7, 1994 and had been very active in Museum activities ever since. Eugen was called to give talks about his World War II experiences to last few years at Dakota Meadows Middle School, Lake Crystal High School for Liberty day, KTOE Radio, Memorial Day Service at Vietnam Memorial, and Sertoma Club meetings in North Mankato. As a member of the "greatest Generation" he felt he was obligated to let people, especially children, know about World War II and all its consequences.

He enjoyed hunting pheasants as often as possible in the past, now he was more into playing golf, shooting pool and playing cards, especially cribbage with friends at the senior center.

Eugene is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; children, Paula (Mike) Rock, Eden Prairie, MN, Bruce (Karen), Chicago, IL, Craig (Pat), Mankato, Alan (Ramona), South Pasadena, CA, Scott (fianc", Karol), Sioux Falls, SD, and Eric (JoAnn) Vancouver, BC; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Ev (Mabel), Gordon (Ella), and Marv; and sister, Ruth Locke.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Augusta.