Eugene A. “Gene” Wyman, 75, of Crivitz, Wis., passed away peacefully in Sarasota, Fla., Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, after a courageous yearlong battle with leukemia.

He was the son of John and Eleanore Wojtkiewicz, and he was the second child of four. Gene attended school in Crivitz, and joined the U.S. Marines in 1955. Gene married Mary Mans on Nov. 8, 1961. After leaving the Marines, he opened the Crivitz Home Bakery, where he took extreme pride in providing fresh home-baked goods to loyal customers for 30 years. In 1982, Gene opened up the Baker’s Kitchen, followed by Ellis Junction Supper Club and Gino’s Pizzeria in Crivitz. Upon selling his businesses in Crivitz, he became passionate about collecting and selling taxidermy out of his home in Republic, Mich. To the people he came into contact with, Gene will be remembered for his compassion for others, and his ability to create a conversation with anyone who crossed his path.

Gene is survived by his wife, Mary; six children, Tim (Tammy) Wyman of Neenah, Wis., Tammy (Mark) Wyman of Sarasota, Tracy (Don) Besnier of Lithia, Fla., Holly Wyman of Sarasota, Allison (Charlie) Godoski of Mulberry, Fla., and Shannon (Eric) Rajewski of San Francisco, Calif.; several grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his brother and best friend, Roger Wytkewicz of Sarasota; sisters, Karen Thomas of Crivitz, and Gretchen Keiler of Green Bay, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Eleanore Wojtkiewicz.

A Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at St. Francis of Assisi in Englewood, Fla. Burial will be at the St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery in Crivitz, in the summertime.

A special thanks to Gene’s caregivers at the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center in Michigan, and Sarasota‘s Doctors Hospital.

Arrangements are by Veterans Funeral Service and Cremation, Sarasota.