W. Eugene "Gene" Stewart, age 86, of Ainsworth, Iowa, died Thursday, June 11, 2015, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington following a short illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2015, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington with Rev. Kitch Shatzer officiating. Calling hours will begin 9:00 a.m. Monday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:30 p.m. Monday. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. A general memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent for Gene's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Warren Eugene Stewart was born June 16, 1928, in South Bend, Indiana, the son of Warren Walter and Mildred Belle (Crone) Stewart. Gene graduated from Washington High School, Washington Junior College, and attended the General Motors Training Center. He was united in marriage to Betty Jane Sojka on August 30, 1952, in Washington, Iowa. He served in the National Guard for several years.

Gene worked for the family business of Stewart Pontiac and Buick and later at Perdock Inc. in Washington, Iowa. In 1973, he and his son, Tony, began Stewart Automotive Engineering where he was co-owner until his retirement in 1986. Gene was proud to be Chief of the Crossmount Stewart Atholl clan for over twenty years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge and the Mississippi Valley Speedway Club. He enjoyed fishing and building remote control model airplanes. Gene was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and an avid race fan. He and his wife, Betty, had enjoyed wintering in the south since 1985.

Gene is survived by his son, Anthony R. "Tony" Stewart and wife Kaye of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Jane E. Flander and husband Murray of Keota, Iowa; daughter, Rhonda L. Wilson and husband Tim of Ainsworth, Iowa; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren, one sister, Shirley Ann Jones and husband Bob of Washington, Iowa; and one brother, Thomas Albert Stewart and wife Debra of Iowa City, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty, in 2014; and many aunts and uncles.