Gene Joseph Mensing

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Gene Joseph Mensing, loving partner and

father of three, passed away at the age of eighty-one.

Gene was born to Fred and Florence Mensing on August 31, 1942. Right

after Gene graduated from Holmen High school in Holmen, WI he enlisted

in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas as a

mechanic in the motor pool working on big equipment and continued

serving for several more years after in the military reserves.

In 1962, Gene met the love of his life Mary Brown in Galesville, WI. Later

that year Gene and Mary were married and proceeded to have three

children: Brian, Tracey and Kirsten. They had recently celebrated their 61st

wedding anniversary.

Soon after they were married, he was scouted and offered a defense

position for the New England Patriots football team. He turned it down and

decided to purchase the Shell gas station in Galesville. Then Shortly after

started a small engine repair shop and had the first Scorpion snowmobile

dealership in Galesville. He then went to work at Gale Products as a shift

supervisor. He spent 3 years as a police officer. In 1969 he made a career

change into over the road trucking, and after several years purchased his

own semi-truck and built his own trucking and repair business.

Eventually Gene, Mary and Daughter Kirsten formed a business

partnership and bought a house in Lanesboro, MN and started The Historic

Scanlan House Bed and Breakfast Inn. A few years later, Gene shut the

trucking business down and joined Kirsten in Lanesboro at the B & B on a

full-time basis. Three years later they started the Little River General

Store. It was the first bicycle dealership, rental and repair shop in the area.

Eventually it became a full-service outfitting business with not just bicycles

but added canoes, kayaks and float tube rentals and sales along with

shuttle services. Although Gene had to step away from the business a few

years ago, both businesses are still in operation today, after 38 years.

Gene, with other business professionals in Lanesboro, lobbied and worked

hand and hand with the state and DNR to get the state bicycle trail system

going through Lanesboro and surrounding towns and advertising the bluff

region to make it what it is today.

He had a love for the great outdoors and snowmobiled for years around the

Galesville area with friends and family, and in later years made trips out

west with his brother Kelly to snowmobile with Brian and his family. Gene

went on several fishing outings with family, fishing the Mississippi river,

Canada, Wyoming and red fishing in his off season during the winter in

Texas. He went scuba diving with Tracey in Hawaii. The plaque is still on

the wall from when Gene shot a hole in one at the Ettrick Golf Course.

Gene was survived by his wife Mary, children son Brian (Lori) Mensing,

daughters Tracey Younes and Kirsten Mensing. Grandkids Mason (Jasmin)

Mensing, Kelcie Mensing and Samir Younes. Great grandkids Kyah and

Jaxon Mensing. Brother Kelly Mensing.

On Friday, April 12th, 2024 from 1:30 pm to 5 pm we invite you to a

gathering of friends and family in celebration of Gene’s life on the second

level of The American Legion in Downtown Lanesboro, MN (103 Elmwood

Street East) There will be a light lunch served. The bar will be open but is

a cash bar.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests cards and any memorial tributes or

donations to help with expenses be directed to Mary Mensing, c/o Scanlan

House, 708 Parkway Ave So., Lanesboro, MN 55949.

Johnson-Riley Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is assisting the Mensing family

with arrangements.  Online condolences are welcome at rileyfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.