Gene A. "Shorty" Kalkwarf, 69, of 635 E. Sixth St., Minonk, passed away at 5:28 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 23, 2007) at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Leesburg,Fla.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk, with the Pastor Craig Swenson officiating. Burial will be in St. Petri Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Flanagan.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk, and for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Shorty was born Jan. 11, 1938, in Flanagan, the son of Henry and Bertha Flohr Kalkwarf. He married Barbara Ehresman on Sept. 21, 1958, at Salem Mennonite Church, Gridley. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Sharie (Bob) Hansen, Broken Arrow, Okla.; two sons, Terry (Jane) Kalkwarf and Larry (Nikki) Kalkwarf, both of Minonk; two sisters, Joan (David) Seifert, Michigan City, Ind.; and Jane (William) Diaz, Pontiac; five grandchildren, Matt (Valerie) Kalkwarf, Brianna Kalkwarf, Jayden Kalkwarf, Danielle Kalkwarf and James Kalkwarf.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk. He served on the board and was a member of Tall Oaks Country Club, Toluca. He was previously the owner of Shorty's Soil Service and had worked at Burroughs Ag Service, Stoller Implement and lastly at Uftring Automotive, Minonk. He also was the owner and operator of Shorty's Signs.

Shorty was an avid stock car driver and fan. After many years of racing himself, he taught others the sport. He was an avid fan of Dale Earnhardt Sr, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. He enjoyed golfing in Illinois and Florida, and spending time with his family and many friends. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk or The Victory Junction Gang.

Online condolences may be sent to his family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com .