Obituary: Eugene Victor Remy

November 18, 1937 ~ April 12, 2022

Eugene “Gene” Victor Remy, 84, of Nasewaupee, died Tuesday evening, April 12, 2022. 

He was born on November 18, 1937, the son of the late Ronald Carlyle Remy and Ann Irene (Peterson) Remy. Gene grew up attending Hainesville School (primary school) and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1956. Upon graduation, he continued his education at a trade school in Green Bay where he studied to be an electrician.  It was during this time he enlisted in the Naval Reserves (1955) and was active until 1961.   

Gene was an entrepreneur from an early age—catching and selling minnows at his parents’ resort and even selling manufactured housing during his lunch breaks in high school. Hence, the start of Remy’s Homes began when he was a teenager. What began as a business venture led him to the realization of his true passion and life’s work: to provide affordable housing for families. He strongly believed that everyone should have a place to call their own. 

On December 19, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia (Pat) Ann Pinney who was also a member at the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church. He and Pat were blessed with over 59 years of marriage and three children. She preceded Gene in death on February 28, 2019. 

During their years together, Gene and Pat owned and operated Remy’s Homes, Inc., Thunderhill Estates, LLC, and Gitche Gumee Resort, LLC. They continued the hundred-year Remy family business tradition in Sturgeon Bay, that started in 1919 with a grocery store on the west side of Sturgeon Bay (Sawyer) opened by Gene’s grandfather, Jules. 

As a devoted member of the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, he was on the Board of Trustees and other committees for many years and oversaw projects such as the installation of the church elevator for handicapped members of the congregation.

Gene was heavily involved in the Wisconsin Manufactured Housing Association/Wisconsin Housing Alliance, including serving on their Board of Directors on numerous occasions, and in 2001 earned their highest honor, the Elmer Fry Award. He was also a founding member of the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club Breakfast, where he was twice honored to receive Rotary’s highest accolade, the Paul Harris Award. 

Gene’s hobbies included his love for antique automobiles, tractors, and other mechanical equipment. He loved water sports, including boating, sailing, and waterskiing (barefoot and slalom). In fact, in his younger years he was considered a daredevil trickster skier; his favorite stunt was to stand on the top of a six-foot step ladder, on a wooden saucer, while being pulled by a boat at high speeds. His winter sports included downhill skiing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Gene also was an avid Packer fan, and longtime season ticket holder who memorably attended the famous “Ice Bowl” game in 1967.

As much as Gene loved to travel, his favorite views remained those by the shores of Gitche Gumee. Gene loved Door County and happily participated in many efforts to keep it beautiful, including planting thousands of trees and contributing to conservation projects. Over the years, Gene was on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Door County Parks as well as the Door County Historical Society.

Gene will be remembered for his generous spirit; he was known for showing up and being willing to lend a hand. He loved to tell stories and connect with people—and as a result, he made friends everywhere he went. His warm smile and joyous laugh will be missed by all who knew him.

Gene and Pat have three children and their families: Dr. Jeannine Remy, of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, Judith (Joseph) Hilgers of Gordon, WI, Joseph (Randy Armijo) Remy of Silver Spring, MD. They also have five grandchildren: Drew (Abbie) Hilgers, Sean (Maggi) Hilgers, Brenna Hilgers, Seth Remy, and Shea Remy; and a great-grandchild, Mackenna Hilgers. Other family members include sister-in-law, Julie (John Propsom) Pinney, and her three children: Dr. Tanner (Claire) Pinney, Dr. Ben (Amy) Pinney, and Burke Pinney; niece, Janelle Peotter (Dr. Eric Perlman), and nephew, Ben (Cheryl) Peotter; and brother-in-law, Thomas (Myra) Pinney, Jr. and their children: Cheryl (George, deceased) Pinney-Leu, and Geoff (Sonja) Pinney.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife; siblings-in-law, George Pinney and Joyce “Pooky” Peotter; niece, Majel Pinney-Henrickson; and other relatives.

His life will be honored with a funeral service held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church with Rev. Reeder Herrick officiating. The funeral service will be recorded (non-live) and eventually shared on the “Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door Crematory LLC” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HuehnsFuneralHome).

Gene will be laid to rest in Bayside Cemetery, beside his wife, Pat.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay and will continue at Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorials may be given in Gene’s name for Friends of the Door County Park System and/or Peninsula Players.

“Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Door County Medical Center and Unity Hospice for the kind and compassionate care given to our father.”

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gene may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

The Remy family kindly requests that those in attendance of the visitations and/or funeral service wear a face mask and respect social distancing.