Gene A.

Chiodo

Gene A. Chiodo, age 97, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2026, at his home in St. George, Utah.

Gene was born on October 23, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Vincent and Ethel Chiodo. He grew up alongside his older brother, Don, and younger sister, Mary Anne. In 1943, the family moved to Tremonton, Utah, where they owned and operated the Bear River Telephone Company.

Gene graduated from Bear River High School in 1947 and continued working in the family business, where he met LaRee Mortensen, the woman who would become his wife and lifelong companion.

Gene joined the National Guard and was later drafted into the United States Army in 1951. Following his training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, he served as a communications specialist with the First Infantry Division in Germany. While home on leave, Gene and LaRee were married on Christmas Day, December 25, 1952. Their marriage spanned more than 70 years, taking them from small-town Utah to the Midwest and eventually back to the beautiful landscapes of southern Utah.

After his discharge from the Army in 1953, Gene returned to Tremonton and the family telephone business. When the business was sold in 1963, he decided to further his education, graduating from Utah State University in 1966 with a degree in Economics.

That same year, Gene and his family moved to Louisville, Illinois, where he became manager of Wabash Telephone Cooperative, Inc. He dedicated more than three decades of his professional life to the cooperative before retiring in the late 1990s. Following retirement, Gene and LaRee returned to Utah, settling in St. George to be closer to family and friends.

Gene was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed volunteer work, gardening, and exploring the natural beauty of the Southwest. A quiet and reserved man, Gene was also remarkably generous and thoughtful. He was never one to seek attention or recognition, preferring instead to show his care for others through simple acts of kindness and generosity.

Gene is survived by his son, Michael (Pilar) Chiodo; three grandchildren, Abbigail (Edward) Gray, Gina Marie Chiodo, and Michael Benjamin Chiodo; and three great-grandchildren, George C. Gray, Margaret S. Gray, and Rosemary B. Gray.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, LaRee; his son, Matthew; his parents, Vincent and Ethel Chiodo; his brother, Don; and his sister, Mary Anne.

Gene will be remembered for his quiet kindness, generous spirit, and the thoughtful ways he touched the lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A graveside service will be held, with military honors, on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Bear River City Cemetery in Bear River City, Utah (5550 N 4600 W).