Gene Mudd, 83, of Warsaw, passed away at 1:44 PM, Saturday, June 10, 2023,
at Blessing Hospital in Quincy.
Gene married his high school sweetheart on “the hottest day of the year”. 6-11-
1961 in Hunnewell, MO at the United Methodist Church with the reception immediately
followed at the farm of Robert and Margaret Landrum in an unairconditioned home,
Gene complained about sweating until the winter of that year.
Gene was an outstanding, two sport athlete for the Monroe City Panthers in
baseball and basketball. His excellence earned him All-State honors in 1956 and 1957.
He was proud that his team was the first in school history to make it to state. Even in his
last days he would always ask the nurses where they were from, if they answered
“Palmyra”, he would nod and shake his head and say “that's too bad”.
Gene used his basketball ability to put himself through college on scholarship at
Northeast Missouri State, Moberly Jr College, and Central Missouri State in
Warrensburg, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master's Degree which he was so
proud of. “I played sports to pay for my education”.

After graduation, he started coaching and teaching with stops in Stover,
Braymer, and Belton, Missouri schools. Success followed him throughout his career,
and he took the leap from high school to college. He became the Men’s basketball
coach at Southeastern Community College in Keokuk, IA in 1970. He moved his family
to Warsaw, IL. Gene coached the Keokuk Komets for seven seasons having success at
each level of competition.
In his spare time during the summer months, he coached the Warsaw fast pitch
team. Over the next decade his teams dominated both the “little” and “mini” leagues.
His teams went undefeated for seven consecutive seasons. He won over 300 wins with
only a handful of losses. To this day, former players will comment on how good those
teams were, and how well they were coached. Many players tried to emulate Gene and
his coaching style. He did not believe in participation trophies. He said, “winning isn’t
everything but losing sucks”. You always knew where you stood with Gene in sports
and in life.
After he ended his coaching career/teaching career in 1978 he started selling
insurance for Country Companies. He never wanted to sell insurance but after some
guidance from J.E. McMurray, he decided to give it a try. Gene sold insurance for the
next twenty-six years winning numerous awards, trips and praise from those around
him. He was the first agent in Hancock County to open his own office at 618 Main
Street in Warsaw.

Gene was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed all types of bird hunting including
quail, turkey, dove, duck, and goose. He also enjoyed boating and fishing on the
Mississippi River and spending time at his cabin. He loved boating so much that the
Mudd family cleared their summer schedules from Memorial Day to Labor Day to spend
their time boating. He has been credited for teaching over 300 people on how to water
ski by simply showing them and then shouting at them if they could not get up. It
worked.
After Gene’s retirement, he spent his winters vacationing in Pharr, Tx. Living out
of his motorhome. Gene developed a love for trapshooting and traveled all around the
midwest going to competitions. Gene was a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan. He loved
spending time with his children, but it was grandchildren and great-grandchildren that
gave him so much joy. He was always a “crowd favorite” at family gatherings. Gene
loved his family and his home. Last but not least, Gene Mudd would always say, “I’m a
Missourian forever, and don’t you forget it.”
Gene is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Warsaw; children, Robb (Karen) Mudd
of Jacksonville, Illinois, Susan (Jeff) Wherley of Macomb, and Scott (Carla) Mudd of
Carthage; grandchildren, Austin (Hannah) Mudd, Jordan (Dylan) Reed, Karsyn Mudd,
Kendyl Mudd, Kaylea (Brad) Schmidt, Madison Wherley (Zach Grover), Jacob Wherley,
Jennifer Cooper, Drake Mudd, and Chase Mudd; great grandchildren, Mia Mudd, Norah
Reed, Sloane Schmidt, Barrett Schmidt, Lillian Cooper, Evan Cooper, and Kobi
Wherley; one sister, Doris Ann (Melvin) Wilson of Burlington; and nieces, nephews and
cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Velma Mudd; and one
sister, Sue Mudd.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday morning, June 16, 2023, at
Printy Funeral Home in Warsaw with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery in Warsaw. A
visitation will be held Thursday evening from 2:00 – 7:00 PM with family meeting friends
from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. at Printy Funeral Home in Warsaw. A memorial fund has been
established. Printy Funeral Home of Warsaw is in charge of arrangements.