Eugene Terrance Ihlenfeldt

Eugene Terrence Ihlenfeldt, 88, from Enumclaw, Washington died Monday, October 29, 2018. Known to his family as Gene and his colleagues and friends as Gino, he was a friend to everyone he met.

Gene was born in Seattle on January 16, 1930 to Albert and Alice (Boland) Ihlenfeldt.   He grew up on a small farm in Juanita, Washington with his 6 siblings.  

After high school he worked in an apple orchard in Lake Chelan before being drafted to the Army where he fought in the Korean War.  After being honorably discharged he enrolled at Seattle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. 

Gene married Lillian Ingham in 1959 and they had 5 children.  In 1977 the family moved from Juanita to Enumclaw where they built a home on 10 acres with a stream that became the place for most family gatherings.

Gene had a prestigious career at The Boeing Company in Kent where he was involved in many challenging projects including the Lunar Rover, Minuteman Missile program, the Infrared Laser System and the International Space Station.  He retired from Boeing in 1992 with 35 years of service.

He enjoyed hunting in Alberta and Wyoming, hiking in the Cascade Mountains, fishing in Alaska and precision shooting at local ranges. 

He is survived by his brother Donald; his daughters Jana Huddleston (Mike), Woodinville, Ruth, Renton, Kathryne, Enumclaw, and Tammi, Enumclaw; his son Steven (Joan), Mercer Island; and his ten grandchildren: Jennifer (Angie), Brinton, Jake, Stephanie, Nicole, Katelyn, Austin, Nathan, Kassandra and Edward.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brothers James, Albert, and Norman; and his sisters Kathryne Scott and Ruth Sayers.

There will be a memorial for Gene on November 10th at 2pm at the Neuwaukum Grange in Auburn.

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