Eugene Archie Curran (“Gene”), 69, from Monroe WI, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at UW Health hospital on December 11, 2024 after a courageous battle with lung disease.
A Celebration of Gene’s Life is planned at the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe, WI on December 22nd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Green County Family YMCA or the charity of your choice.
Born on his father’s birthday, Eleanor Johnson Curran and Archie Eugene Curran welcomed Gene in Black River Falls WI on June 15, 1955. He was the 7th of 8 children. After a few stops in Illinois, his family moved to Monroe before his 8th grade year. Throughout high school Gene excelled at basketball and baseball and graduated in 1973. He attended UW-Eau Claire and graduated with a degree in History and Pre-law. He started his post-college career at Lincoln Financial in North Carolina but quickly moved to Swiss Colony as an Interim Manager. Through Swiss Colony, Gene relocated throughout the country. In 1979, Gene moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he met Sue, his wife of 45 years. They moved to San Antonio, Texas where their daughter Jeannie was born. Gene and Sue welcomed their son Jim in 1983 after settling in Monroe. Gene worked for Swiss Colony for 44 years before retiring as the President of Green County Foods, the company’s wholesale division.
Gene was passionate about kids, community and sports. When he moved back to Monroe, he worked hard to bring a chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters to the town. As his kids got older, he coached many of their sports teams. To help improve his community, Gene served on multiple local boards, most notably the Green County Family YMCA, and was elected to the Green County Board Executive Board.
In addition to watching and coaching his kids, he continued to play basketball and softball for many years. As he got older, golf became his favorite sport and he served on the board of the Monroe Golf Club for several years. He combined this love of golf with his fandom on the Wisconsin Badgers to help lead Monroe’s Badger Booster Days golf tournament, a fundraiser for UW athletics. He was also an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks. In recent years, Gene loved spending time with his grandkids, playing golf, watching sports, and enjoying restaurants with friends and family.
Grateful to have shared his life, Gene left behind his wife of 45 years, Susan (Gaston) Curran of Monroe; his children, Jeannie (Keith) Haines of Bloomington, IL, and Jim (Sara Casselberry) Curran of Monroe; 4 grandchildren – Ava (14) and Sophie (12) Haines and Cora(5) and Cam(3) Curran; 6 siblings – Dorothy (Jerry) Cunningham of Schaumburg, IL, Duane (Barb) Curran of Lena, IL, Anita Marsh of Freeport, IL, Jerald (Bonnie) Curran of Lena, IL, Frank (Bessie) Curran of Mosinee, WI and Al (MaryAnne) Curran of Madison, WI and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Archie Curran; his brother, Robert Curran; and brothers-in-law, Dave Marsh and Jerry Cunningham.
