Behrens

Eugene "Gene"Behrens, 76, of Butler died 10 a.m. Wednesday at his home.

Born Nov. 2, 1931, in Palmyra, N.Y., he was the son of the late Pearl Lake.

Mr. Behrens was a sales manager for Keystone Electric, still working after 51 years.

He was a member of Nixon United Methodist Church. Mr. Behrens was the current president and a past fire chief of the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental in the creation of the Butler County HAZMAT team. He was a member of the American Legion Post 117.

Mr. Behrens was an assistant coach for the Center Township Athletic Association from 1985 to 1996 and a member of the Butler Area Baseball Association and prep league coach from 1996 to 2000.

He was an Army veteran who served during the Korean War.

He is survived by two sons, Steven Behrens and his wife,Sue, of Granby, Conn., and ScottBehrens and his wife, Theresa, of Chicora; and two daughters, Teresa Bauder and her husband, Fred, of Harrisville, and Susan Spiridonakos and her husband, George, of Sewickley.

He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Christopher, Brian, Kevin, Matthew, Joseph and Joshua Behrens, Michelle Foran, Nichole Geibel and her husband, Jason, Ryan and Nicholas Bauder, and Michael and Sophia Spiridonakos; four great-grandchildren, Marcus Lantz, Kailyn Behrens, Chloe Geibel and Madalyn Geibel; three brothers, Robert Lake and his wife, Connie, Edward Lake and his wife, Lorraine, and James Lake, all of New York; a number of nieces and nephews; and his companion, Donna Eozzo.

Mr. Behrens was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Marie "Laurie" Walker Behrens, who he married Nov. 28, 1953, and who died July 2, 2005; and one sister, Shirley Gelardos.

<B>BEHRENS</B> — Friends of Eugene "Gene"Behrens, who died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, will be received 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc</B>., 124 E. North St. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Bruce Merrit of Nixon United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Brownsdale Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department, 311 Airport Road, Butler PA 16002.