Obituary of Eugene Albert Surprenant

Eugene (Gene) Albert Surprenant, age 78, passed away Sunday, June 14th, 2020 in Lodi, CA. Gene was born February 25th, 1942 in Utica, New York and has lived in Lodi, CA since 1981. In 1959 he enlisted in the US Navy, at the age of seventeen. He began his active enlistment at 18, and served on The USS St. Paul from 1961-1963. During that time, he traveled to The Philippines, Japan and Hawaii, and returned with mementos for his mother from all of his travels. He married Sherry Brown (Boyer) in 1964, and they adopted a son and daughter, Joseph Surprenant, and Nicole Surprenant-Fonda who both survive him. During his adult life, he worked as a plant manager in manufacturing, building recreation vehicles in Southern California and then as a division manager for steel fabrication manufacturing in Lodi, until he retired. His hobbies included fishing, golf, and gambling. In 1998 he married Shirley Kern Milligan, who survives him. He is preceded in death by his father Albert D. Surprenant, his mother Mary E. Surprenant, his former wife Sherry Boyer, and a stepdaughter Shellie Frazier. He was a devoted husband to his wife Shirley (Sam), caring for her at home from 2012-2019. He is also survived by his brother Jerry Surprenant, brother and sister in law Ed and Denise Surprenant, sister and sister in law Denise Surprenant and Donna Thornton, daughter in-law Kathy Surprenant, stepdaughter Lisa Frazier, and sister in-law Chris Surprenant-McKee. His grandchildren include grandsons Justin Fonda, Caden Surprenant, Zane and Troy Frazier and granddaughters Cheyenne Fonda, Brooke and Jordan Surprenant and Camila Surprenant. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, all of whom have fond memories of him. He was a kind and generous man, always there for those who needed him, and he will be sorely missed.