Earl Eugene ‘Gene’ Clodfelter

Earl Eugene “Gene” Clodfelter, 86, passed away on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 at home surrounded by his family, after a two-year fight with cancer.

Born Jan. 14, 1934 to Mary V. (Brothers) and Dennis V. Clodfelter at his farm homestead near Fincastle, Gene had one sister, Sue Ann Carroll of Crawfordsville, who survives. The farm was honored as a Hoosier Homestead Centennial Farm in 2016, for being in the same family for more than 100 years.

He graduated as valedictorian from Russellville High School in 1952 and with honors from Purdue University in Animal Husbandry, 1956.

Gene was married for 59 years to Phyllis J. Nelson from 1955 until her death in 2014. They had four children who survive, Jeanna K. Anglin of Roachdale (Alan), Douglas E. Clodfelter of Brazil (Joyce, deceased May 2020), Rita K. Smith of West Lafayette (Jay) and Chet E. Clodfelter of Roachdale (Leslie). Gene had 11 grandchildren, Clint Anglin (Andrea), Josie Anglin Lalama (Jordan), Jed Anglin, Abe Anglin, Angela Satterfield (Rick), Holly Foster, Jeremy Staley, Kyle Wedemeyer (Rebecca), Luke Smith, Lance Clodfelter and Kayla Clodfelter. His four great-grandchildren are Jalen Satterfield, Noelle Wedemeyer, Nicholas Pezan and Bentley Miller.

He was always happy when family was together. He enjoyed camping, softball, basketball and involving his kids and grandkids in projects at the pond and around the farm.

In 2015, Gene married Nancy Brown, who survives. They enjoyed traveling, dancing and rehabbing a farm house built by his great-great-grandfather a couple of miles from the family farm. He had two stepchildren, Lyn Smith of Greencastle (Roger) and Matt Brown of Russellville (Lisa).

Gene enjoyed a life of service to his church, family and community. He served on the board of directors for Cummins Mental Health Association, Greencastle Savings & Loan (merged into Old National Bank), Putnam County Community Foundation, Russellville Scholarship Fund, Soil and Water Conservation (district and state levels) and Optimist Club. He was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash twice and the Spirit of Philanthropy from the Putnam County Community Foundation. He was an active member of Russellville Community Church and was instrumental in merging the local churches through the years. He was an elder, taught Sunday school and volunteered weekly for the after school “Ask’m Program” until his illness.

Gene served in the Army Transportation Corps and the Army Reserve for many years. He ran the Roachdale Elevator for 20 years, and was also in the insurance, real estate and financial services industry. He served on the Putnam County Council for 26 years and was a Putnam County Commissioner for four years.

For the past 20 years, Gene raised elk with his son, Chet. He truly enjoyed his elk farm and giving tours to families and FFA kids from around the country. He was also passionate about sharing “Clodfelter’s Pond,” which hosted the annual Russellville Community Church Camp for 54 years. Many family reunions and special campouts and celebrations have been hosted at the Pond. Gene had a favorite sign “This is God’s Country, where memories are made.” Gene’s family will forever cherish the memories of a life well lived. The family would like to send a special thank you to Gene’s friend and neighbor, Bill Coe.

A graveside service will be held at Blakesburg Cemetery on Friday, Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Russellville Scholarship Foundation of Putnam County Community Foundation, the Russellville Community Church or a charity of your choice.