Gene Herzfeld's Obituary
Gene Herzfeld Obituary
Virgil Gene Herzfeld, age 88, died peacefully surrounded by loving family on Monday, May 29, 2023, at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gene was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Virgil Ferdinand Herzfeld and Kate May (Carothers) Herzfeld. Gene was the youngest of two boys. At a young age, Gene enjoyed many things a typical boy of the late 40s and 50s would enjoy such as fishing and playing sports (particularly basketball). Gene developed a strong work ethic from a young age working at a local bakery in the early morning hours before he would attend school each day. He often joked that was the very reason he did not care for donuts as an adult.
After graduation from Muskogee's Central High School in 1953, Gene moved to Tulsa to pursue a business in the beauty and barber supply industry as his father had done with a similar store in Muskogee. The Tulsa store grew quickly and was quite successful as Gene traveled not only throughout the state to call on shops for service and sales but traveled throughout the United States while being a top purchaser of products from Zotos and Helene Curtis. Gene had connections wherever he went with his smart business sense and quick wit. He was able to gauge his customer base and was 'top notch' in providing exactly what his customers needed and anticipate what they wanted. The business expanded opening stores in Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas.
Gene and Joyce married in 1973 and went on to have a wonderful and loving marriage for 50 years with many great experiences to share of their time together. They traveled all over the world, meeting and keeping friends - for decades to come - they met along the way. After Gene's retirement from the business at the age of 47, he started to dabble in real estate buying and selling properties and accumulating many rentals over the years. Since his passing, many of his 'renters' have indicated he was the best landlord while expressing their condolences.
Gene was a longtime member of St. James Church where he and Joyce were very active as part of the church's congregation. Gene enjoyed his children and grandchildren's sporting events whether assisting with coaching, grilling burgers for ball teams, hosting swimming parties or attending school music concerts. Gene will always be remembered as a loving husband and wonderful father and grandfather as well as a wonderful friend. His easy going manner, kindness to others, great stories and genuine concern for people always made him stand out in the crowd. He truly never met a stranger.
Surviving family members include his wife, Joyce Herzfeld; his children Curt Herzfeld, Linda Jones, Marsha Conine, and Scott Herzfeld; step-children Allen Bowen and Sheila Pitto; grandchildren Bo Pitto, Brandy Thompson, Charity Thompson, Matthew Jones, Megan Jones, Nicholas Jones, Rocky Pitto, and Trey Bowen; brother, Kenneth Herzfeld as well as numerous great-grandchildren and extended family and friends. Gene is preceded in death by his parents and two grandsons: Colton Herzfeld and Zachary Thompson.
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