OBITUARY: Eugene D. Porter

Eugene David Porter, 70, died peacefully Saturday, May 24th at Briarwood Care Center.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service. The family welcomes friends to join them in celebrating Eugene's life at The Kirkwood Room at Governor's Ridge following the service. 

Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or United Way of Johnson County.

Gene was born May 21, 1944 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Boyd and Elizabeth Shepersky Porter. He was a kind, smart, athletic kid who grew up learning how to tell a good story. His classmates at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs elected him senior class president.

The first in his family to go to college, Gene attended St. John’s College. When he ran out of money, he left school and began working for the telephone company. Then, during the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Air Force at Offutt AFB. 

After his enlistment ended, he moved to Iowa City with his young family where he looked forward to taking classes at the University of Iowa and resuming working for the telephone company. When a supervisor at work blocked his efforts to pursue a college degree, it sparked a lifetime of labor union activism. 

Gene served as president of Communication Workers of America Locals 7116 (Iowa City) and 7101 (after the merger of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids) from 1972 until his stroke in 1997. A beloved and effective leader, he litigated labor cases against expensive corporate attorneys and won. From negotiating a national contract to advocating fair treatment for a single worker, Gene modeled how to disagree without being disagreeable. He built bridges across differences; he also knew how to take a stand. Possessing pervasive and perennial optimism, he encouraged his union members to fight for what is right, writing in his local union newsletter “…those who dare not dream, those who content themselves with a reactionary role, and those not willing to take a chance on tomorrow will forever allow outside forces to dictate.”

Gene’s life’s work continually reflected his belief in the worth and dignity of every person. He pioneered programs to help union members overcome prejudices. He served on the United Way and Goodwill boards. He collaborated with high school teachers to bring labor history into the classroom. He helped found the Iowa Labor Council. He chaired Democratic Party caucuses and conventions. He ran for city council. He and his wife, Nancy, regularly opened their home to all kinds of activities that advanced democracy. For his widespread activism, he received many awards, including the Hawkeye Labor Council Citizen of the Year.

Both before and after his debilitating stroke, he was a strong teddy bear of a man and a great big tease, always ready with a comforting hug and a way to get folks laughing. Children loved him. Gene enjoyed fishing, woodworking, gardening, cooking, eating, planning summer vacations, camping, and, above all, spending time with his family. Out of all his accomplishments and contributions, it was his family in which he took the most pride.

Survivors include two daughters, Theresa (Kevin) McFarland-Porter of Rochester, New York and Tracy (Timothy) Gregg, Ph.D., of Williamsville, New York; his caregiver and former spouse, Nancy Porter of Iowa City; five grandchildren: David, Ross and Elizabeth McFarland-Porter and Robert and Edith Gregg; four siblings: Doris (Robert) Hansen of Sioux City, Sharon (Marvin) Van Unen of Benton City, Washington, Vernon Porter and Linda Christiansen, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his father, mother and sister, Carol Porter.

Gene's family wants to thank Briarwood for 14 years of care for Gene.

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