Gene M. Key, a 79-year-old resident of Hampton, IL, died on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 at the Illini Hospital in Silvis, IL after a brief illness.
Mr. Key was born on Oct. 31, 1940 at his home in rural Trenton, the son of Fred and Deloris Metsker Key. He graduated from Trenton High School and was married to Carlotta McCullen of Galt. They had three sons, Joseph Eugene, Daniel Lee and William Michael Key. They moved to the Quad Cities, where he worked for John Deere Harvester. He later went to work at International Harvester and retired from Case Tenneco in 1992, spending all 33 years in the steel receiving department.
He was drafted into the Navy around 1965.
He was married on Nov. 13, 1971 in Hampton to Donna Wilde Wileford, who had a daughter, Diana.
He is survived by two sons, Joseph (Angie) Key of Ohio and Daniel (Vicki) Key of Kansas and their son, Dustin (Tosha) and great-grandchildren, Arista and Aiden Key; a daughter, Diana (Chris) Erling of Washington, grandsons, Ryan and Shane Jochim; and granddaughter, Bailey Erling; and two brothers, Freddie (Carrol) Key and Buddie Key of Trenton.
He was preceded in death by a son, William Michael; his parents; a brother, Ronalddean Key; and a sister, Annielea Blattner.
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