Eugene "Fitz" Fitzgerald

Eugene Gordon "Fitz" Fitzgerald, 89, of Rockford, passed away on January 14, 2014, in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born August 11, 1924, in Blackduck, Minnesota. Married Carol Hanson in Pompano Beach, FL on July 28, 1989. He was a Marine serving in WWII. Gene was the founder of Fitzgerald Equipment Company, INC. which was established in 1962. After his retirement in 1992, he taught with the Beloit School System for 8 years. He was a kind and generous man who made a difference in the lives of many people. He was dedicated to taking care of his family. Was a member of the Shriners, Tebala Shrine Air Patrol, a world traveler, an avid pilot and loved animals and nature. Gene was a highly intelligent man who always enjoyed academic challenges.
Survivors include his wife, Carol; Son, Kevin (Diane) Fitzgerald; daughter, Kim Fitzgerald of Madison, WI; step-daughters, Nicole (Joseph) Termanas of Lake in the Hills and Dana (Ray) Onorato of Oregon; grandchildren, Kara (Matt) Hoekwater, Eric (Shannon) Fitzgerald, Michael (Kelley) Fitzgerald, Abbi Fitzgerald, Amy (Michael) Ragland, Nicole Fitzgerald-Marks, Paige Green, Jenna Termanas, Evan Onorato, Peyton Onorato; 7 great-grandchildren and another on the way; brother, Warren Eberhart; dogs, Ozzie and Jaxson.
Funeral service will be held at 5:30p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Gene's name to Spectrum School Scholarship Fund. To express condolences online, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com