Obituary of Eugene Wettstone

Born in West Hoboken, NJ of Swiss immigrant parents August and Anna Dietrich Wettstein. He was graduated from Edison High School, Jersey City NJ, and then The University of Iowa with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physical Education. He married his college sweetheart Eleanor Keen in Iowa City, Iowa in 1937. He was hired right out of college by Penn State in the Physical Education Dept. where he taught undergraduate courses and coached the men's gymnastics team for 36 years, retiring in 1976. One of his first assignments was to resurrect the now famous Nittany Lion mascot role which he did in 1939 He later delegated it to undergraduate students who serve memorably to this day. Gene's coaching career at Penn State has been chronicled in feature articles. Worth noting is his marketing of the sport to the point that his teams competed before sold-out crowds at Rec Hall, setting the attendance record with over 8,100 spectators. His creation of international matches pitting Penn State against teams from Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, China, and Bulgaria are well remembered by those who attended them between 1955 and the 1970's. A summer job to make ends meet for his family in the war years was house painting. During the summer he employed his gymnasts, his two sons, and other staff from his college on the paint crew. He estimated that he painted over 500 Borough homes during the 1940's through 1970's. Gene maintained a life-long love affair with his ancestral country of Switzerland, making dozens of trips there to escort family and friends. He also enjoyed gardening, and attending auctions to search for antiques which he refinished. Twenty one years ago he and Eleanor moved to the new Foxdale Life Care facility and have been blessed by a wonderful nurturing environment and dedicated nursing staff. Gene used his event production experience to help plan programs at Foxdale. At age 83 he took up ballroom dancing which he enjoyed until recently. Following the death of Eleanor in 2006, he married Ann Clewett of Foxdale in 2007. Survived by: his wife, Ann Clewett-Wettstone; 4 children; Jerry (Jane Clarke) Wettstone, State College, PA; Richard Wettstone (Lois Nelson), Pleasant Valley VA; Janet Lyle(David) Gardner; Dunbar WV; and Laurie (John) Humphreville, Naples FL; 8 grandchildren- Janine (Hugh McPherson)Wettstone, Jonathan (Felicia)Wettstone, David (Lisa) Lyle, Seth (Cari) Lyle, Timothy (Laura) Lyle; Caroline (Jeff) Galati; John Evin Humphreville; and Allison (Steven Ritchie) Wettstone; and 14 great grandchildren - Annie, Ian, Arden, Thomas, Camryn, Cate, Gabriel, Ella, Luke, Geneva, Devon, Taylor, Nathaniel, and Hunter. Two step-children: Lance (Kathy) Clewett, & Douglas Clewett. A memorial service will be held at Foxdale Village, 500 E. Marilyn Ave. on Sat. August 10. Visitation starts at 10:00 am, with a service following at 11:00 a.m. With by Pastor Marvin Friesen of the University Mennonite Church officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Foxdale Employees Fund, or made payable to Penn State University and mailed to: Gene Wettstone Memorial Fund, 1 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.