Eugene "Gene" John Lynch

Eugene “Gene” John Lynch, passed away on October 15th, 2026, at the age of 69, surrounded by his loving family after suffering a rare type of blood cancer. Gene was a long time resident of Linwood, MN. He was born on September 28, 1957, in Champlin, MN, to Deloria and Harold Lynch. Gene was the 2nd oldest of 8 children. He served in the United States Marine Corps as an E5 Sergeant. Gene served his country with dedicated passion and was proud to be a Marine, wearing his Marine cover (hat) daily and always taking the opportunity to pass out challenge coins when he saw fit.

Gene met Sandy in 1977. They married a year later and would have been married for 48 years this October. They have three children, Becka, Tom and Nick. Gene loved his wife Sandy immensely. He never forgot her birthday or an anniversary. He would always spend way more on gifts than he should. Something Sandy early on stopped bugging him about because she knew he wouldn’t stop. Everything that Gene and Sandy did together was an adventure, even buying a lawn mower. They loved each other deeply and enjoyed all their time together, especially the little moments. The example that Gene and Sandy provided for a marriage to last a lifetime is continuing through the marriages that each of their children have.

Through years working at Rosedale Chevrolet and Buerkle Buick, Gene became a Master Technician. During his time at Friendly Chevrolet, Gene was the service manager for most of the years he worked there. He was loved by many of his colleagues and employees. Gene would always make time to walk through the shop, check in on everyone and offer help whenever it was needed. He held many classes at his personal shop for techs to gain more knowledge and skill around transmissions. Gene was helping diagnose car problems up until even the weeks before his passing. He excelled at what he did and was always helping family and friends with fixing their vehicles. Gene passed on his love for cars to both his sons and fixing cars to his son, Tom.

Gene was actively involved in golfing, spending time at the cabin, working in his shop and on projects, including helping Becka build her dining table, making toy chests for most of the grandkids and building an armoire for Sandy. He would always help people in need. Gene was active in helping with various charities through work. Most importantly, he enjoyed spending time with family and his sweet little kitty, Lily, going to car shows, the occasional rodeo or air show, Forest Lake 4th of July parade, hiking and adventuring in Duluth, watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and weekly Sunday night dinners. He had an especially sweet spot for all his grandchildren and loved to work with Noah in the shop, take the grandkids on tractor rides around the yard, bring the grandkids fishing and swimming on Goodrich Lake (and let them drive the pontoon), support them at school functions and participate in silly antics just to make them laugh.

Gene experienced many ups and downs throughout life. He persevered with strength and hope through all of them, keeping the love of his family at his forethought. Gene was an upright, incredible man that will leave behind a legacy of strength, honor and determination like nothing else.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandy Lynch; children, Becka (Ben) Haensel, Tom (Megan) Lynch, Nick (Hannah) Lynch; grandchildren, Noah, Violet, Amelia, Avery, Eli, Olive, Abigail; siblings, Jim (Wendy) Lynch, Rick (Barb) Lynch, Dee Dee Oswald, Ladonna (Ray) Cole, Carol Gardner, Harold (Casie) Lynch. He is preceded in death by his mother, Deloria; father, Harold; brother, Donny; granddaughter, Ezra.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 11am at Maranatha Assembly of God in Forest Lake, MN, with the visitation at 10am and a luncheon to follow the funeral.