Gene H. Sessamen, Sr.

Bloomington - Gene Sessamen, 91, Bloomington, formerly of Hopewell, NJ, passed away at 10:10 PM Saturday, September 14, 2019 at Martin Health Center.

A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2019 from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home at 1115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, IL. A memorial service will be held at Bible Baptist Church on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 10 AM with interment following at Evergreen Cemetery in Bloomington.

Gene Harlan Sessamen, Sr. was born September 22, 1927 in Mantua, NJ, to Guy and Sylvia Sessamen. He married Virginia M. Sargent on June 25, 1950, in Hardwick, VT. She survives. Also surviving are two children, Gene Jr. (Janice) Sessamen, Unionville, CT, and Linda (David) Adam, Saratoga Springs, UT; three grandchildren, Jennifer Adam (WY), Christina (Justin) Monge (UT), and Timothy (Elizabeth) Adam (UT) and five great-grandchildren (Makenzie & Lainey Monge; Caleb, Josiah, & Noah Adam).

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Evelyn Lund (Cape May, NJ) and brother, Raymond (Holiday, FL). He is survived by one brother, Donald (South Seaville, NJ).

Gene graduated from Upper Darby Senior High School in PA, and entered the U.S. Naval Reserve (1945-1946). After working with his father in construction, he started work with the State of NJ on August 21, 1961, and worked his entire state service with the NJ Department of Labor. He retired as Assistant Director of Administrative Services on September 1, 1991. Always interested in safety, he lectured at colleges and labor unions on construction safety during his state service. He was a First Aid Instructor certified by American Red Cross and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. He became a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) by virtue of his work in safety.

Gene was a Master Mason over 60 years and a member of Amwell #12 F and AM, Lambertville, NJ. He was a member of Golden K Kiwanis Club of Bloomington/Normal, and Horseshoe Pitchers' Club. He began donating blood before he was married, and continued throughout his lifetime, donating a total of approximately 45 gallons of blood. He enjoyed bowling and playing pool in earlier years, and received several medals from participating in the Garden State Senior Games. He also served on the Westminster Village Resident Council and Westminster Foundation Board, as well as several committees and leadership roles at Westminster Village. Gene was a member of Bible Baptist Church, Bloomington.

Gene loved playing cribbage and had extensive collections of cribbage boards and playing cards. He could be seen every Thursday playing cribbage in the social center at Westminster Village.