Eugene "Gene" Robert Sutton

Eugene Robert Sutton, aged 76, of Lehigh Acres, FL., went to meet Jesus and his earthly father, on August 18, 2024, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer.

Gene was born in Muskegon, MI on May 19,1948.  At the tender age of two months, he moved with his parents, Bernard and Violet Sutton, to Fremont, MI.

Gene always wanted to fly, and after dreaming about it for years, at the age of about ten he had his first airplane ride and was hooked for life.  After getting his private pilot license at about 17, he wanted to take everyone for a ride.  He had a Luscombe tail dragger.  The thing that was the most fun:  He would go to about 5 or 6 thousand feet altitude, turn off the engine and dive.  (Did I tell you the plane had to be started by propping it?  That is, it had to be started by turning the prop by hand!)  Soon they were diving down, the wind whistling by the window.  Faster and faster!  Then suddenly the prop would turn, the engine would start and they were off to the landing strip. When he got older, the draft was in effect, and he decided if he wanted to fly, he would have to enlist.  He spent his training at Savannah, Georgia, where he learned all about helicopters.  He then served in Viet Nam from February, 1969 to February 1970. He earned a Purple Heart for his service.  When he got out of the Service, he worked as Manager of White Cloud (MI) Airport, teaching many young folks (and some older folks) how to fly an airplane.  He then moved to Florida, where he became Chief Pilot at Lee County Mosquito Control.  He worked there until his retirement, keeping all the mosquitoes under control.

He was a member of McGregor Baptist Church for many years and if they needed any air cannons to go off, he was the man to call!

He  married his wife of 55 years, Constance (Harris), in January, 1969 and she survives him.

He is also survived by his mother, Violet Sutton, Lehigh Acres, FL, his four sisters, Diane (Rick) Abbott, Austin, Tx, Charlotte (Ken) Abbott, Simpsonville, S.C. , Linda (Mike) Horan, Grand Haven, MI, Teresa (Kevin) Vande Guchte, Durham N.C.  He is also survived by his uncles, Roger  (Ada) Sutton, Victor Brant and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and more friends than you can “shake a stick at”.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bernard Sutton, baby sister, Sharon, his grandfathers,  Dave Brant and John Sutton, grandmothers, Alice (Pleuse) Sutton and Edna Brant.

The Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, August 30, 2024 at Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home with Pastor Tom Ekkel officiating.  Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Fremont.  Visitation will also be at the funeral home from 12-1 PM on Friday.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

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