Gene Shank was born December 30, 1946 in Hanover, PA and passed from this life on November 13, 2025 in Dallas, TX.

Gene was a good man and a real man. Everyone looked forward to seeing him. You couldn't miss hm with your eyes or your ears. People that knew Gene even a little bit respected him. People that knew him well loved and respected him deeply.

He was exactly what our mom needed the moment they met; and she was the same for him. He quickly became a member of our family. When mom passed away, Gene kept everything important going. Holidays and family meals just meant going home to Gene. He loved our loved ones. Every time he put flowers on our mom's grave, he would send pictures to all of her sons. We looked forward to spending time with his family and hearing borderline criminal stories about his younger days!

Gene got everything out of his body that he could. For years, he would wear himself down, get a tune up of IVs, and a few breathing treatments at the hospital because he had things he wanted to do! He volunteered. He would dance, sing, and cook for "old" people. He loved life and looked forward to seeing everyone in this room. He wanted to dance, play poker, sing karaoke, and go on vacations. Later in life, he went everyday to Bible study with his friends at FUMC in Waxahachie or helped at the Waxahachie Senior Center. He was also a regular at Niki's Piano Bar in Fort Worth where a painting of him will soon be hung.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marilyn; his parents, Eugene Nelson Shank and Helen Becker Shank; and his brother, Donald Shank.

Gene is survived by his boys, John Michelsen and wife Sue, Louis Michelsen, Robert Michelsen, David Michelsen and wife Angie, and Tommy Michelsen; his brothers, Robert Shank and wife Yvonne, and James Shank; his sisters, Ada Hunley and husband George, and Linda Powell and husband Calvin; his niece, Michelle Trotter and her son, Thomas; and numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.


The family will receive friends at 10:00am on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Byrum Funeral Home Chapel with a Celebration of Gene's life beginning at 11:00am.