Herbert E. "Gene" Myers, 81, of Rock Rapids, IA, and formerly of Coin, died Wednesday morning, September 30, 2009, at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA.

Herbert E. "Gene" Myers was born on February 16, 1928 at Hemingford, Nebraska the son of James and Hazel (Foster) Myers. Gene grew up in southwest Iowa. He attended Coin High School, graduating in 1946. He served in the Merchant Marines at the end of WWII. Gene was united in marriage to lla Sue Long at Bentonville, Arkansas on November 5, 1949. He worked for the agronomy department of Iowa State University for 38 years retiring in 1991. Gene and Ila lived in Doon, Iowa during these years and after his retirement they moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa. He enjoyed gardening, fishing and hunting. He was a member of the Alvord and Rock Rapids gun clubs, American Legion, a past member of the Lyon County Fair Board, former volunteer fireman and former council member. On Wednesday morning, September 30, Gene died at the Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids at the age of eighty-one.

He is survived by his wife, Ila Myers, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; daughter, Glenda Schouten of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Lori Myers of Brandon, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Nathan (Kristina) Myers and Tim Myers all of Brandon, South Dakota; and Katy Schouten of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Chantel Myers of Brandon, South Dakota; a brother-in-law, Marion Ketcham of Nebraska City, Nebraska, and a sister-in-law, Violet Myers of Ottumwa, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Glenn and an infant son; four brothers, Donald, Russell, Bernard, and Richard Myers and one sister, Betty Myers Ketcham.