Eugene "Gene" M. Mahler Jr.

Eugene Martin Mahler, Jr., Age 88, military veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, and longtime resident of Waukesha, died on Sunday June 30, 2013 at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.
He leaves a wife, Donna Mahler (nee Schultz); two daughters, Jacqueline Goldman (Ronald) of the Woodlands, Texas, and Susan Siegfried (Richard) of Muskego, Wisconsin; three grandchildren: April Goldman of Oakland, California, Rachael Siegfried of Waukesha, and Tristan Siegfried of Muskego; and a sister, Mrs. Dona Chapman (Kelley) of Blairsville, Georgia.

Gene Mahler was born on February 28, 1925 in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His parents were Eugene Martin Mahler, Sr. and Alice Mahler (nee Wilson). His paternal grandparents were John and Marie (Lauer) Mahler, formerly of Wachenheim, Pfalz, Germany, and later of Forest Park, Illinois. His maternal grandparents were John and Mary (Briscoe) Wilson , formerly of Dawley Magna, Shropshire, England, and later of Oak Park.

In 1941, at age 16, Gene enlisted in the Navy, serving as a signalman aboard an aircraft carrier during the invasion of North Africa in World War II. After four years in the Navy, he re-enlisted in the army, spending 3 years as a counter-intelligence agent during the Korean War, stationed partly in Japan.
He first moved to Waukesha County in 1959, and during the 1960’s owned a restaurant, Tops Grill, in downtown Waukesha. He also worked for Bordens, and then for Epic Resins as a developmental chemist until his retirement.

Gene’s early interests were motorcycles (he owned a Harley and an Indian), airplanes, and fishing. Later he became an amateur photographer. He played the recorder and the pan flute, and mastered the playing of Chopin’s “Minute Waltz” on the harmonica. He loved classical music.

He knew both the elation and the crushing disappointment of being a Packer fan.

His strong presence will be much missed by his loving family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 5, 2013 from 1:00PM until the 3:00PM memorial service at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Full miltary honors will follow the service. If desired, memorials are appreciated to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675. Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.