Gene Mensing

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Gene Joseph Mensing, loving partner and father of three, passed away at the age of 81.

Gene was born to Fred and Florence Mensing on August 31, 1942. Right after Gene graduated from Holmen High school in Holmen, Wis., he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kans., as a mechanic in the motor pool working on big equipment and continued.serving for several more years after in the military reserve.

In 1962, Gene met the love of his life, Mary Brown in Galesville, Wis. Later that year Gene and Mary were married and proceeded to have three children: Brian, Tracey and Kirsten. They had recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

Soon after they were married, he was scouted and offered a defense position for the New England Patriots football team. He turned it down and decided to purchase the Shell gas station in Galesville. Then shortly after, started a small engine repair shop and had the first Scorpion snowmobile dealership in Galesville. He then went to work at Gale Products as a shift supervisor. He spent three years as a police officer. In 1969 he made a career change into over the road trucking, and after several years purchased his own semi-truck and built his own trucking and repair business.

Eventually Gene, Mary and daughter Kirsten formed a business partnership and bought a house in Lanesboro, Minn., and started the Historic Scanlan House Bed and Breakfast Inn. A few years later, Gene shut the trucking business down and joined Kirsten in Lanesboro at the B & B on a full-time basis. Three years later they started the Little River General Store. It was the first bicycle dealership, rental and repair shop in the area. Eventually it became a full-service outfitting business with not just bicycles but added canoes, kayaks and float tube rentals and sales along with shuttle services. Although Gene had to step away from the business a few years ago, both businesses are still in operation today, after 38 years.

Gene, with other business professionals in Lanesboro, lobbied and worked hand and hand with the state and DNR to get the state bicycle trail system going through Lanesboro and surrounding towns and advertising the bluff region to make it what it is today.

He had a love for the great outdoors and snowmobiled for years around the Galesville area with friends and family, and in later years made trips out west with his brother Kelly to snowmobile with Brian and his family. Gene went on several fishing outings with family, fishing the Mississippi river, Canada, Wyoming and red fishing in his off season during the winter in Texas. He went scuba diving with Tracey in Hawaii. The plaque is still on the wall from when Gene shot a hole in one at the Ettrick Golf Course.

Gene was survived by his wife Mary, children son Brian (Lori) Mensing, daughters Tracey Younes and Kirsten Mensing; grandkids Mason (Jasmin) Mensing, Kelcie Mensing and Samir Younes; great-grandkids Kyah and Jaxon Mensing, and brother Kelly Mensing.

On Friday, April 12, 2024, from 1:30-5 p.m. we invite you to a gathering of friends and family in celebration of Gene’s life on the second level of The American Legion in downtown Lanesboro, Minn., (103 Elmwood Street East) There will be a light lunch served. The bar will be open but is a cash bar.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests cards and any memorial tributes or donations to help with expenses be directed to Mary Mensing, c/o Scanlan House, 708 Parkway Ave S., Lanesboro, Minn. 55949.

Johnson-Riley Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is assisting the Mensing family with arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at rileyfuneralhomes.com.