Philip G. Seals

Gene's story begins back on October 9, 1925 in Williamsport, Indiana, when he was born to the late Robert and Evelyn Seals. On May 31, 1947 he married the love of his life, Mildred Maxine Allen, in Peoria, Illinois. Shortly after, they moved to South Bend in 1951 and he went to work for Torrington Bearing Company. He worked there as a foreman for many years, until he retired in 1981. While at Torrington Gene worked at Ben's Marathon on Sample Street. After Gene retired he went to work for his son Robert, working for Seals Coach Service. He also worked part time for St. Joseph Funeral Home when his close friend, Tony Petrowsky, was Manager. Gene was a member of the Masonic Lodge #45, Orak Shrine, HOG Club, NRA and the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Organization. He spent many years singing in a quartet & chorus. One of Gene's most memorable times was singing with the International Champions in 1954. Gene also enjoyed traveling all over the country with his wife, Maxine on the back of his Harley, going to the various HOG Conventions and going on vacations. Gene loved to work on his vehicles and read about cars. However, nothing compared to how he loved to talk about his grandchildren.
Gene is survived by his loving wife, Maxine, of 64 years; his two sons, Robert (Denise Wetzel) Seals of South Bend, Indiana and Thomas (Jan) Kleppe of Peoria, Illinois. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Tamara Seals of Asheville, North Carolina, Sheila (Brad) Fink of Peoria, Illinois, Thomas (Michelle) Seals of Thonotosassa, Florida, Joseph Kleppe of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jacqueline (Scott) DeRosa of Greenwood, Indiana, and Sharon Kleppe of Peoria, Illinois; six great grandchildren: Katie Lasiter of Waynesville, North Carolina, Christa Seals of Thonotosassa, Florida, Max Fink and Julia Fink of Peoria, Illinois, Gabriella Seals of Asheville, North Carolina, Charlie DeRosa of Greenwood, Indiana, and Aurora Kleppe of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and one great great grandson, D.J. Lasiter of Waynesville, North Carolina.
Visitation for Gene will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2012, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana.
A Masonic Service will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home, followed by the Valleyaires.
Burial services will be held at 2 p.m. (CST), Monday, January 9, 2012, in the Swan Lake Memory Gardens, 4601 War Memorial Drive, Peoria, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of Gene, the family requests memorial contributions be made to: AMDF (American Macular Degeneration Foundation), P.O. Box 515, Northampton, Massachusetts, 01061-0575 or to the American Heart Association .