Gene Franklin Banes, 85, of Toledo, passed away Friday, February 27, 2026 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama under the care of Iowa River Hospice. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Interment will follow at National Cemetery in rural Vining. Visitation will be Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 9:30-11 AM prior to the service at the funeral home.

Gene was born on January 14, 1941, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Albert and Ella (Stary) Banes.

Gene attended school in Vining and then went to York #5 Country School. In 1959, he graduated from Toledo High School and then attended trade school for plumbing.

On August 16, 1959, he was united in marriage to Donna Suchy at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Gene started working at Charipar Plumbing in Cedar Rapids, and in 2004, he retired from Brecke Plumbing in Cedar Rapids. Gene also farmed his parents farm since 1974, after they moved from Cedar Rapids. They moved to Toledo in 2020.

Gene was a member of Local #125 Plumbers Union, ZCBJ and CSA in Vining. He was treasurer for the National Cemetery for many years.

Gene enjoyed farming, fishing, mushroom hunting, and being outdoors. He especially loved his time with his grandkids and great grandkids.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Donna of Toledo; his children, Jeff Banes of Ankeny, Todd (Kim) Banes of Elberon, Annette (Don) Lacina of Tama, and Pam (Jim) Hala of Toledo; nine grandchildren, Jared (Shevaun) Banes, Halie (Marc) Dellamuth, Mitch (Savannah) Banes, Shelbie (Reese) Williams, Trent (Kate) Banes, Derek (Katie) Lacina, Devin (Sydney) Lacina, Drew (Maddie) Lacina, and Olivia Hala; thirteen great-grandchildren; his sister, Judy (Jim) Sankot of Jefferson; and nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother, Albert Lee in infancy; and his nephew, Tom Sankot.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sunny Hill Care Center for the excellent care for Gene the last twenty months.

A memorial fund will be established.