Gene Bodnar Jr

October 14, 1941 - November 23, 2021

Eugene E. Bodnar, Jr., age 80 of Clare, passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at his home. Gene was born the son of the late Eugene and Gertrude Eleanor (Nierath) Bodnar on October 14, 1941 in Detroit. He had attended public school in Detroit up to the fifth grade; grades 6th through 8th were spent marching unceasingly in Military School, the St. Francis Home for Boys. His last 4 years for high school he attended Boysville of Michigan in Macon, graduating as class valedictorian in 1959. He graduated from the University of Detroit with a Bachelors of Science degree in 1977. Gene had held numerous jobs throughout his working career including, grocery store bagger, private investigator, and finally several jobs within the City of Detroit; working his way up to Head Accountant. After a total of 31 years he retired in 1991. Shortly after that Gene went to work for a time at as a consultant for Moylan Engineering, computerizing their Accounting Department. Other adventures would follow, such as building and selling model ships, writing a monthly nautically oriented column for the MSB Journal, constructing over 2,000 crossword puzzles for newspapers, magazines and books. He moved to Clare in April of 2015 and shortly thereafter joined the Clare County Historical Society where he was a tireless volunteer, rarely missing a Saturday at the museum in the 5 years he was active. Other local interest included starting the Clare County Chess Club at the Pere Marquette District Library and becoming a member of the Clare County Arts Council. Gene mentioned to his daughter upon his arrival to Clare that the one thing he lacked was a social life and friends. It can surely be said that Gene found those things and more and that the Clare Area is better for knowing him. Several years ago Gene met with the Clare County Review’s owner, Mike Wilcox to see if he was interested in hiring him to write a weekly column called “Faces in the Crowd”. After nearly three years and interviewing 136 local individuals Gene wrote his last column, Faces in the Crowd - Gene Bodnar. It was a glimpse into Gene’s entire life, the ups and downs, the good and bad. Gene summed it up best, “Thank you, the people of Clare County, for the great ride. It is with great pride that I consider myself a member of this great community”. Gene is survived by his daughter Christi Kleinhardt of Clare and a step daughter Kathy Domas (Sullivan) of Florida; his grandchildren Abigail, Alison and Elijah Kleinhardt and Elena, Andrew and Eva Domas. Gene was predeceased by the love of his life Levetta (Campbell) Bodnar who he shared 15 years of marriage too. In keeping with Gene’s wishes cremation has taken place and was handled by the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be left at www.stephenson-wyman.com