Obituary: Gene Karl Brittain

Gene Karl Brittain, of Waukesha, passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa at the age of 74.

He was born on July 24, 1937, in Minnesota, the son of William C. and Anita (nee Bixler) Brittain.  Gene proudly served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the Great Lakes Sports Fisherman’s Club.  He loved to fish on Lake Michigan and in Florida, where he will be missed by his friends in Wisconsin and Camp Florida. He was a gifted woodworker and loyal Packers fan.

He will be sadly missed by his children Tammy (Terry) Winnie of Dayton, OH, Gale (Terry) Gabbard of Woodbridge, VA, Gene A. (Christine) Brittain of Waukesha and Debbie (Dan) Bartoshevich of Waterford, WI, along with their mother Mercedes Brittain of Milwaukee.  Dear grandfather of Amanda and Mariah Bartoshevich both of Waterford and Ashley Brittain of Waukesha.  He is further survived by cousins, other relatives and friends. 

The family wishes to acknowledge Dr. Parameswaran Hari at Froedtert Hospital and the staff at the Life Clinic for leading the fight against Multiple Myeloma and helping our father live the quality of life he wanted.  We’d also like to acknowledge the nursing staff at Froedtert Hospital in the MICU, whose compassion and care were immeasurable.  A special thanks to Mercedes, our mother, for her devoted care and support to our father during his battle.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 20, from 3 p.m. until the 7 p.m. funeral service at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gene’s name are appreciated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society WI Chapter, 200 S. Executive Dr. Brookfield, WI  53005.

For further information, please call at (262) 547-4035, or go to http://www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.