Gene Nelson Boadwine, 50, of Preston, Minn., died Sunday, October 4, 2026, at home.
Gene was born January 2, 1976, in Rochester, Minn., to Grant and Marilyn Boadwine. He graduated from Fillmore Central High School in 1994. He was active in Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and Choir.
He attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S. Dak. and graduated in 1999, with a B.A. in Communications. He enjoyed singing in the Augustana Collegiate Choir.
Gene worked in telecommunications with Cellular One and Verizon. He also worked for Costco until he could no longer work due to his poor health.
Gene was a kid at heart. He loved building Legos, Harry Potter, Scooby Doo and CLUE. He enjoyed good food, red wine, traveling and hotel camping. He could start a conversation with any stranger and that stranger would become a friend.
Gene was a kind and compassionate person. He would help anyone in need, even if he couldn’t afford it himself; he would find a way.
Gene had a strong faith in God. He was baptized and confirmed at Resurrection EV Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minn. He is now with the Lord in Heaven.
He is survived by his mother, Marilyn Boadwine of Preston, Minn., siblings, Julie (Rob) Bakewell of Bloomington, Ill., Scott (Mona) Boadwine of Tracy, Minn., Lisa Boadwine of Preston, Minn., best friends, Jared and Vickie Anderson, of Rochester, Minn., Brad Garbert of Atlanta, Ga. and many other friends.
He is preceded in death by his father, Grant Boadwine.
The Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, Minn. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. There will be a meal following the service.
A special thank you to Preston Emergency Services for all their care. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
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