Ramone Eugene Corbeille, 88, “met his maker” Dec. 8, 2016.
He was born May 16, 1928, to Walter Hanslip and Nellie Rogers Hanslip, in Fremont, Nebraska.
Dad, or “Papa Gene,” as he was known to his family, had a unique and tough childhood, to put it mildly. When he was only 18 months old, his mother narrowly saved his life, during a terrible house fire, by wrapping his little body in a blanket and tossing him out a second story window into a snow bank. Sadly, Nellie died a few days later from her injuries, leaving his father to grieve the death of his wife and the sole responsibility of his young son.
Unable to cope with the grief, Gene was passed from one poor relative to the next during the Great Depression years, until at age 14 he hopped a freight train and headed west. He experienced many adventures along the way, and finally ended up in California at age 15. It was there that he lied about his age and joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was enlisted as a tail gunner on a dive bomber but was grounded after his typing skills were discovered. He served out the remainder of the war behind a desk typing away on an old Underwood typewriter.
After the war he met and married a young woman named Virginia Gamo and they made their home in Santa Barbara, California. A few years later they were blessed with a son they named David. A painter by trade, Gene had a beautiful tenor voice and was widely known as the “singing painter.” He sang at countless weddings, funerals, churches and community events throughout his life. Dad always said the greatest event in his life is when they were “wonderfully saved” and became Christians. Gene and Virginia were married for 56 years until Mom passed away in 2006.
Violin making became Dad’s hobby after retirement. Many friends and family have been blessed by his gifts of violins.
After Mom’s passing, Dad remarried an amazing lady named Lee Grobe. They shared six wonderful years until she passed.
“Papa Gene” was known as a gentle, friendly, generous and thankful man. He left behind a legacy of grace, gratefulness and the incredible value of loving others.
The family would like to thank and recognize the care givers at the Brendan House for the love and excellent care Dad received during the final three years of his life.
He is survived by his family, David, Susan, Daniel, Michael, Alexis and Hunter Corbeille; also, Justin, Laura, David, Trent, Laina, Graham and Trace Heinrichs.