Gene Porting

Clarence Eugene “Gene” Porting, 88, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Mercy Regional Heath Center in Manhattan, KS. Visitation was Monday, August 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home. The family received friends from 2 to 5 p.m. A rosary service was held at 7 p.m., Monday, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Axtell. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 5, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Father Albert Hauser and Father Jim Shaughnessy officiated. Kathy Buessing played the organ while the choir sang “On Eagles Wings”, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, “Amazing Grace”, “Miracle of Life”, “City of God” and “How Great Thou Art”. The pallbearers were Ed Porting, Steve Green, Jeff Landrum, Galen Porting, Bob Kuckelman, Chuck Porting, Steve Burdolski and Kent Kuckelman. The honorary pallbearers were Jim Carlson, John Hawkins, Loyal Shirley, Jim Runnebaum and Stanley Hasenkamp. The American Legion Riders escorted the funeral procession to Rose Hill Cemetery in Axtell. Military Honors were provided by the Axtell American Legion. Gene was born on April 6, 1926 on a farm near Axtell, Kansas to Peter and Irene Godbout Porting. He attended Grandview and St. Michael’s grade schools. In 1944, he graduated from Axtell High School and was then called to serve in the Korean War with the United States Army from October 1951 - 1953. Gene was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska and attained the rank of Corporal. Upon being honorably discharged from the army he started farming in the Axtell/Beattie community and continued there all of his life. On October 30, 1971, Gene married Darleen McAtee Johnson and at the age of 46 became the step-father of four children. In 1973 Jeanne Irene was born. Gene was a jack of all trades and loved inventing new gadgets to help around the farm (carts, walnut sheller’s, log splitters, and numerous other items). Gene was also a huge gardener growing a wide array of fruits and vegetables along with tending to his orchards filled with apples, peaches, cherries, and apricots. He was known for being ornery and pulling tricks on his family. He was also one that you could never tell him he couldn’t do it because he would always prove you wrong. He also had the sharpest knives in the country! Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Darleen McAtee Johnson Porting; five children: Bruce (Sheri) Johnson of Nixa, MO; Rex Johnson of Orlando, FL; Linda (Keith) Ronco of Wichita, KS; Susan (Paul) Stewart of Washington, KS and Jeanne (Doug) Parry of Paxico, KS; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Gene is also survived by three sisters: Margie Buessing, Anna Marie Kuckelman, and Dorothy (Bob) Landrum along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Mary Kay Burdolski, Eileen Shaughnessy, Alfred Porting, Rita Kuckelman, and Gerald “Butch” Porting. Memorials will be given to St. Michael’s School, Axtell’s Eagle Booster Club and the American Cancer Society. Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home in Axtell. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gene Porting, please visit our flower store.