Gene V. Ahrens Sr., age 94, of Sheboygan, died on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at his home with his family at his side. He was born on October 15, 1931 in Two Rivers, WI, to the late Jerry and Helene Naser Ahrens.
He attended Mishicot High School, graduating in 1949. Gene went to County Normal College in Manitowoc, and then UW-Oshkosh earning his bachelor’s degree, and later acquired his master’s equivalent in education from UW-Milwaukee.
Gene was a U.S. Army Veteran, he served his country during the Korean War as a radio operator on the front lines from 1952 to 1954. On August 21, 1954, he was united in marriage to Monica Kleiber at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Silver Lake College. Gene was a teacher at James Madison Elementary School for over 30 years, until his retirement in 1990.
He was a current member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, former member of the Men’s Holy Name Society at Immaculate Conception, and he was a founding member of the Sheboygan Falls Bowhunters Club. Gene and Monica were also involved in 21 educational Elderhostels, and were volunteers at Whistling Straits Golf Course for the PGA events. He enjoyed growing gladiolas for church, gardening, playing cribbage and sheepshead, fishing, golfing, bird watching, and spending time at the cottage at White Potato Lake. Gene was also proud to have been on the Honor Flight in 2015 accompanied by his daughter Yvonne.
Survivors include his wife, Monica, of Sheboygan; seven children, Jerry (Deb) Ahrens, of Little Sturgeon, WI, and their children, Jerry Jr., Danielle, Joe, Dorothy, Dominque, Daria, and Desiree; Yvonne Rupnik, of Sheboygan, and her children, Rebecca, Matt, and Rachel; Mary (Steve) Meng, of Cincinnati, OH, and their children, Andy, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Karen; Sue (Steve) Cornelius, of Sheboygan, and their children, John and James; Tom (Rose) Ahrens, of Appleton, and their children, Jesse, Josh, Mark, and Marjorie; Geno Jr. (Jody) Ahrens, of Sheboygan, and their children, Cory and Lindsey; and Mike (Shelia) Ahrens, of Sheboygan, and their children, Mike and Tina; 40 great-grandchildren, and 2 great great-grandchildren.
Gene is also survived by two nieces, Nancy Ahrens, and Deb Blegen; and two nephews, Roger and Kevin Groll; brother-in-law Ben (Pattie) Kleiber; two sisters-in-law, Helen Crocker, and Merle Kleiber. Many other relatives and friends further survive. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister-law, John and Jean Ahrens, and a sister and brother-in-law, JoAnn and Allan Groll, and a niece Nona Pravechek.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Gene will be celebrated on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1305 Humboldt Ave. Sheboygan with Fr. Paul Fliss officiating. Family and friends may gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Cemetery with VFW Post 9156 providing full military honors.
Gene’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their compassion and care.
The Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.reinboldfh.com
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