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Cliffton ‘Gene’ Jorgenson passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 3, 2021 after suffering from multiple terminal conditions for many years.

Gene was born in Luck, Wisconsin in 1935. In 1953, at 17, he joined the United States Navy where he honorably served for 10 years. In 1970, he married Patricia Grothe and they made their home in Center City. In 1973, his daughter, Lisa, was born. Gene worked at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Hastings, Minnesota until he retired from that position. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Center City, and a member of the Chisago Lakes Rescue Squad where he was a paramedic. In 1995, Gene and his wife Pat moved to Mesa, Arizona and were the managers of an apartment complex for more than 20 years until they finally decided to permanently retire and relax.

Gene is preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, a brother, and a half-sister. He is survived by his daughter Lisa, his son-in-law  Justin, his sister Joanne Nahkala, his brother-in-law  Floyd Nahkala and his sister-in-law Marlys Nelson.

Gene will always be remembered for his ability to make friends everywhere he went, his eagerness to tell a joke or a story to make someone laugh, his willingness to volunteer and help however he could, his big heart, his endless optimism and bright outlook. Right up to the end, he was joking and laughing. He will be sorely missed.

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