Eugene Valadez

Eugene (Gene) Valadez, 74, of Rockford, went home to be with the Lord on July 27, 2017. Born March 21, 1943 in Chicago to Jesse and Frances Valadez. Attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory High School and joined the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation. After serving his time in the military, had a long and successful career as a telephone technician for many distinguished corporations. Settled into retirement in Texas for the last decade and just recently moved back to his home state of Illinois.

Gene was a loyal Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears fan and spent a lot of time at the ball parks throughout his entire life. He kept physically fit throughout his life, by running every single day. When he could no longer run, he would walk and bike. He ran and completed several marathons from his 20s until his 40s. In between those marathons he never failed to find a smaller race to occupy his weekends. In the 80s, he was a member of the Rockford Road Runners. Gene was a devout and faithful Catholic and rarely, if ever, missed a Sunday of mass. He loved nature and enjoyed discovering new forest preserves and parks, while running and biking. Gene was a person who could strike up a conversation with just about anyone he would come into contact with. He truly never met a stranger. He is loved and missed by many, but especially his two daughters, and granddaughters.

Survived by, daughters, Jessica and Mark Soter, Leslie Valadez and fiancé Tommy Spielmann; granddaughters, Michaela Nausner, Ashla Soter, Talia Juliano, great-granddaughter, Kinsley Nausner, Siblings, Marguerite Valadez, Joseph Valadez, Christine Valadez, several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents and nephew, Bryan Seborowski.

Mass will be 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Presence Cor Mariae, 3330 Maria Linden Dr. Rockford, IL 61114. Visitation 5 - 7 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2017 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108 and from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Presence Cor Mariae. Burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108 – Send online condolence at www.fitzgeraldfh.com