Eugene K. Probst

Our beloved husband, father and the patriarch of our family, Eugene K. Probst, passed away on December 14th at his home in Midway, Utah, surrounded by his loving family.

Gene was born on February 10th, 1925 and grew up in the struggle of the Great Depression where his parents, Karl and Cree, taught him the value of hard work, duty and responsibility. Tending sheep, raising foxes, milking cows and working the family farm were all part of his formative years. While he recalled his young years as demanding, they also became the very foundation upon which he would build a strong and beautiful life. It was during this time that he also learned to love music and developed a smooth tenor voice that would serve him and the thousands that heard him sing at home, on his porch and at the cemetery, where he spent years singing to grandma. Gene was a formidable, competitive boxer, football and baseball player and loved hunting with his sons and grandsons. He was a man of great strength and loved the outdoors. He was one of the first Eagle Scouts in Midway.

Immediately after graduating from Wasatch High School, he was recruited to play football as the quarterback at Utah State University but quickly turned his efforts to serve our nation in the United States Navy. After enlisting, he saw tremendous action and lived through tumultuous battles in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Oak Hill as a Fire Controlman 2nd Class.
He fought in 7 major engagements during 28 continuous months in World War II, including the Battles at Leyte Gulf where he helped liberate the Philippine Islands. He was decorated for his valiant service there more than 65 years later by the US Navy and the Filipino Forces currently serving there.

Soon after returning from the war he met and married his sweetheart, Darlene Turnbow, from Heber City. Together they had the joy of raising their eight children. Gene quickly chose a career path that included running the family farm and laying brick, stone and tile. He shared his work ethic and skills with his children. He built his own company over the years that allowed him to provide for his growing family and participate as a pillar in Midway’s political affairs. He served several terms as a City Councilman and was eventually elected to serve three terms as Midway’s Mayor. Many of Midway’s most important infrastructure projects, the City Building and a multitude of other important parks and facilities were products of Gene’s efforts and work. He developed a sister-city relationship with Trubschachen, Switzerland during his tenure. Gene loved the youth in the community and he helped coach a team that went to the Little League World Series. He and his sons built the original rock work on Memorial Hill to honor Wasatch County veterans. He also took the time to serve in the Wasatch County American Legion so he could put his fellow patriots to rest with dignity and respect. Gene was invited and flown to Washington DC as part of the Honor Flight in 2017. He was Wasatch County’s Grand Marshall in 2018 and Gene and Darlene were privileged to be Midway’s Honored Citizens together. He loved being part of the Greatest Generation.

Gene was proud of his heritage and the deep Swiss roots his family planted in Heber Valley nearly 150 years ago. Together, Gene and Darlene realized one of their lifetime dreams of opening a restaurant in Midway in 1988. She was a great cook and they loved making new friends over warm food and handmade desserts. They enjoyed visiting and getting to know everyone who came through the door of the Burgermeister so much that they were often teased about giving away more food than they ever sold.

Gene was a master woodworker and kept his wood shop busy. He spent decades planning and building beautiful pieces of furniture and hand-crafted gifts he treasured sharing with family, friends and those that needed to know that they were loved. If he was not busy working in his wood shop, you would find him enjoying his garden or singing to his sweetheart at the Midway Cemetery, where he could be found rain or shine after he lost the love of his life to cancer in 2011.

His commitment to family endured beyond any other aspect of his life. Surrounded in Midway by most of his children, he has a great posterity that he loved and served tirelessly. Service has been the central role of his life, whether it was on behalf of our nation during the war, during the growth of Midway, in his religious service, including 18 years at the Provo, Utah Temple or in his own personal family. Gene led a life of service that exemplified the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ as a legacy for his family and the many lives that he touched through service and constant attention to the work at hand.

Gene is survived by his children Mike (Joan), Craig (Debbie), Bill (Beverly), Karl (Mary), Bob (Jolyn), Genene (Adam), Sharon (Ty) and Kent (Heather), 32 grandchildren and a continually growing number of great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, daughters Mary and Diana and his granddaughter Jennifer.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 21st at 11:00 AM at the Midway Stake Center on 165 North Center Street, Midway, Utah 84049. A viewing will be held Friday December 20th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Stake Center and from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM prior to services on Saturday. Interment at the Midway Cemetery will be held following the funeral services. Friends and family may visit the online guestbook and share a memory of Gene at www.probstfamilyfunerals.com .