Gene Edward Tuel
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Funeral services for Gene Edward Tuel, 75, Lawrence, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at River City Church in Lawrence, KS. The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS. Gene passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at his home.
He was born on July 6, 1947, in Monticello, Iowa, to the late Arvil and Eunice Tuel. The family lived in Scotch Grove, Iowa, until 1952. Gene grew up in Monticello, Iowa, with two older sisters and two younger brothers.
As he approached high school graduation, he figured he would be in the grocery business, having worked in a local store as part of a business club. But he had displayed proficiency in various art forms, and his instructor arranged for him to display his works at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls. As a result, he won a full tuition scholarship.
As a freshman at UNI in 1966, he committed his life to Christ because of his contact with young men from the Navigators, an international Christian ministry organization, and he began to minister to students. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in arts and industrial arts from UNI in 1970.
He spent his career with the Navigators, retiring in 2017. He trained at the University of Missouri, in Columbia (1970-71), and Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo (1971-72). He then served at Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville (1972-76); the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln (1976-80); Kansas State University, in Manhattan (1980-81); and, from 1981 until retiring, at the University of Kansas (KU). He was affiliated with KU as a religious student advisor and focused on mentoring international students.
At NWMSU, he met Leellyn Schultz. They married in 1975, raised three children, and celebrated their 47th anniversary on June 21, 2022.
In 1990, he earned a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from KU, and soon began collaborating with Resource Exchange International to offer English language instruction in Vietnam. For about 20 years beginning in the early 1990s, he led teams of college students on 6-week summertime trips to Vietnam.
The onset of a rare genetically inherited disease forced him to discontinue the Vietnam trips. He participated in the first human clinical trials in the U.S. for a drug designed to combat the disease, and he believed that the drug extended his life as he fought the illness for more than a dozen years.
A deeply committed and self-taught theologian, apologist, and evangelist who knew the Bible inside and out, Gene also believed that any truth could be explained on a single sheet of paper.
Balancing his introspective, academic nature, he also loved to be outdoors, to travel and explore, play various musical instruments, and more. The comedic songs he learned as a young man in a hillbilly band carried over into his parenting, where he would pull out an autoharp or guitar to deliver the punchlines (“Well, I can’t get off of my horse / All day and night, I ride upon my saddle / I can’t get off of my horse / Because some low-down, dirty dog / Put glue on my saddle”).
After reaching his 75th birthday, Gene was ready to go home to heaven.
Survivors include his wife, Leellyn, of Lawrence; a daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Nathan Colburn, and five granddaughters, of Three Rivers, Michigan; a son and daughter-in-law, Jesse and Stacy, and a granddaughter and grandson, of Christiansburg, Virginia; and a son, Brian, of Lawrence; a sister, Juanita; a brother, Clarence; and a brother, Dennis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Bev; and a brother, James.
Memorial donations may be made to Resource Exchange International or River City Church.
So sorry for your loss. I can feel some of your pain. Not sure why God calls some. You are in my thoughts and prayers. It is tough to let go. I will remember our times in the past. Hang in there friend. I love you
So sorry for your loss…xxrita moses
Leellyn and family,
We are so sorry for your loss but rejoicing that Gene is safe in the arms of Jesus. Truly a remarkable servant.
Al and Elaine Cox
Such a beautiful tribute of a life lived for Christ. Love your precious family so much.
The Harrells
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family.
My heart is with you and your family. I do now know such a loss myself. I am happy Gene hung on to love of family and friends. Gene is now back to full capacity in heaven and as he walked through the gates was welcomed with open arms by our savior himself. I hope you and your family find peace in this trying time. It was a honor caring for you both. My love, blessed be. Jennifer Jahn MA, RA.
Dick and Linda Endersby
Gene was a special man and a great part of our UNI Nav team as a student. We remember him at our prayer meetings always with something good to share. Our prayers are with you as you grieve and celebrate. Much love!
Leellyn, looks as if he lived a very full life pointing others to Jesus. May you & your family feel God’s comfort at this time.
Leellyn,
We count our friendship with Gene as a true honor for us both. He and the Crustiest sang and performed at our wedding and made it memorable for all. He was a true example of unwavering faith to all who knew him. We lift you and the kids up to our Lord for His comfort. In His love, Larry and Cheryl
Reading this brought back so many memories of my time in Lincoln with your family. Gene was one of a kind and the words written about him ring so true. I’m s thankful for his faithfulness to following Jesus every step of the way.
LeEllyn, Sending healing prayers and comfort during this time. Our hearts go out to you.
I’m sad to hear about Gene and the loss your family is feeling now. I with the others who have written before me will be praying for your family guy and especially for his dear wife who so faithfully served him and loved him so many years. You did an outstanding job and I loved our short time together in Manhattan. God’s blessings and comfort to you all. Mary Jean Coyne.
Dear Leellyn and family,
My thoughts and heart go out to you.
To Gene – – Well done.
Rest in Peace.
“Though the voice is quiet, the Spirit echoes still.”
Healing hugs from Beth Berg
I am so sorry LeEllyn. Gene was a wonderful man. I am praying for you and your children that memories will be sweet.
LeEllyn, I am sending sympathy to you and your family for your loss.
May God give you his comfort and peace.
Sending lots of prayers and love to entire family.
I have been so privileged to know you and Gene at various times in your lives. I was at UNI/Cedar Falls when he came to know the Lord and then was growing in his faith; Loved getting to see him and be involved in his ministry to women at Maryville(I got to travel in and spend time there for two years). So fun to get to know you at a Navigator training program in Omaha I think. I treasured the time to see you both at one of my last(and maybe for you to) staff conferences. Love you both so much for the transformation of your lives through Christ and your dedication to follow Jesus in your ministry and in your family life. May God continue to give you faith and strength to follow Him as He leads in your next steps. Praying Romans 15:13. He is the source of Hope and can /will fill you with joy and peace….
I helped care for Gene, He was kind, witty and funny. I know he was a very educated man, he loved his family as he would tell many stories. He fought hard, sorry for your loss. He is now with the Lord, at peace and looking down on you all.
Larry and I are grateful for the impact you both had on our lives. The 1974 spring break trip we made with you to Oklahoma initiated our courtship. Whether Gene saw that coming we don’t know, but it was a God thing. Larry credits Gene for giving him his first ministry opportunities, and benefited greatly from rooming with him from 1974-75. My first summer training program in 1972 was at Twin Brooks Bible Camp where Gene, as director and teacher, captured me with his inimitable communication style. It was the beginning of the spiritual impact he had on my life. Larry and I appreciate his profound influence during our college years and the testimonial he gave at our wedding. And, Leellen, I have high admiration for your spiritual character and journey. May God comfort you with sweet memories and guide you as you journey onward with Him.
Gene was a kind and gentle man. I knew him through grade school and high school in Monticello. We started college at the same time at the University of Northern Iowa. I sat beside Gene at the orientation where we were told to look to the left and right of us four people. We were told three of the four would not graduate. It concerned me greatly as Gene was a good student and I was afraid I wouldn’t make it. Somehow I beat the odds and of course Gene did too. The Monticello class of 1965 will miss him.
Our classmate accomplished so much in his lifetime. He will be well remembered. Nancy Baresel Tsandes MHS Class of 65
Leellyn,
Your journey with Gene has been varied and filled with sorrows but also joys. Gene has been released. You, however, have your own journey to continue. Grieve well and then I look forward to what’s next for you and your family when the time is right. Continue growing your roots in Jesus. Overflow with Him, however He chooses.
Leellyn, I was there!
I was there when Gene’s “journey home” began. It was January 1966 when Gene was an answer from God to a prayer I was praying. In May of 1965, I started my journey of eternal life. That fall of ’65, I started a bible study with five guys. I was frustrated with the study because the guys were what I labeled as “candy Christians.” You had to keep giving them something to motivate them. As a result, I asked God to provide me with men I did not have to give them candy.
I can’t remember if it was Gene or Greg (I think they were roommates) who came to my room and asked me to join a bull session about religion. I stepped into a room of 4 or 5 guys, and they started throwing questions left and right at me. Now I had been a Christian for around six months. But at the end of the bull session, Greg and I went out into the stairwell, sat down together, and he invited Jesus to enter his life.
The next morning, I am walking by their room, and Gene is at the mirror, combing his hair. I stopped to talk with him. Now there is one thing you need to know about the evening before the bull session, Gene only asked one question (or maybe it was none). He sat in the background and said nothing. Either way, I never expected what Gene revealed. “You know that decision you talked about last night?” When I responded, “Yes,” he declared, “I made that decision!” Gene’s journey to His heavenly home began with his decision and now Gene has finally arrived at his destination.
But, OH! what a journey he has had! Ken was a roommate of mine who was in his senior year. As he graduated, he asked me to do what he had done. He said that every time Doctor Bob opened the door to his home, Doc should find me “hanging on” the screen door. Well, that was Gene! Every time I turned around, Gene was plastered across my screen door! I did not have to give him “candy.” His decision started him following Jesus and follow Jesus he did! Whatever I gave him, he would run with it, following Jesus.
There was a time when I “messed up” by not taking some things seriously. Gene’s response revealed how important Gene viewed our time together. As he expressed this, I realized my mess-up told me how I was not choosing for Gene’s benefit but my own. Gene was hanging on my screen door because he wanted to know Jesus.
I was there when Gene started his eternal journey of life. Together we learned to follow Jesus. Later, when I was graduating, Gene expressed this truth: “What has drawn us together, now is drawing us apart.” We both had cried out to Jesus, and Jesus entered our lives. Jesus was the one we walked beside. Gene realized there was a fork in the road of our journeys. He followed Jesus to International students, to Vietnam, and arriving in Kansas. I followed Jesus to 6 college campuses arriving in San Diego as a soul shepherd. Although our paths of obeying Christ’s directives caused us to part, we will soon come back together in the throne room of our Living Savior. We will find ourselves wrapped up, all around, by His endless, eternal love for us.
We are in your prayers megen and your family to.
You know that your TRNAZ church family love you.
Dear family of Gene,
We send our love and sympathies to you all in this time of loss.
Sincerely,
Leellyn–sending love and hugs to you and your family. Even though we know this is part of our life, it still hurts our hearts. Thankfully, our Lord helps us walk through the pain and promises to turn it into joy.
Knowing that Gene is now without pain and able to walk and run is indeed a comfort. Being around Gene I got to witness the many lives he touched, learned from his teaching how to deeply study the scriptures, and was challenged to carefully consider applications of scripture.
You have a ton of memories to carry you day by day. The widows of my bible study say to hang on to family, sisters and girlfriends. They will help you through those hard times like nothing else can. Love you lady!! Karen
A time of mixed feeling for you and your family with some tough times ahead, but Hallelujah for Gene! Sam
As a new Christian and college student in Lincoln, Ne, I was too scared to talk to you and Gene, but I appreciated your godly examples and the leadership you gave to all of us. Thank you for following Him and sharing Him with others.
Sheri Kilgore, married to Gary Duff
Leellyn, Ginny joins me sending our condolences to you and your family for your temporary separation from Gene. But we also rejoice with you that hope has become sight for him, and there must have been some glorious reunions since his arrival Home.
While we were regional teammates in the 80s, it was when I joined the REI team for Vietnam that I came know and value his wisdom, sacrificial service, and faithfulness. He laid foundations in that country that continue to bear fruit today.
We have missed the two of you investing in that country these past dozen years, but Chris Sayles, one of Gene’s disciples continue to carry on work there. Gene’s heart continues to be represented through Chris.
One final note: in our 48 years of marriage, you and Gene were the best dance partners we ever had.
To God be the glory! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sharing, Gene with us.
Dear Leellen, Kids, and Grandkids,
Sorry to learn of Gene’s passing. Like you all, Judie and I will miss him. Even though we hadn’t been in contact with Gene since earlier days of the IBI and ISC at Glen Eyrie with Nate, Jake, Jeff, and the Eynons, just knowing he was alive made our lives better somehow. I remember during those events we would often refer to getting some spiritual tool Gene had created from the “Tuel Box.” They were always Biblically solid, easy to follow, and practically useful. He had a real knack for creating these kinds of spiritual tools.
Trusting that God will carry you forward as you grieve in hope, knowing of your future reunion with Jesus and Gene.
As someone with the ISM for long time thankful for all the energy and passion Gene put into ISM ministry. May the Holy Spirit pour out over comforting all tomorrow and honoring the life of Gene .. Elizabeth Curry
Our condolences to you Leellyn and your family.
I met Gene the first class of my first day as a freshman and he was a sophomore. We both arrived early and before class started Gene shared his testimony of salvation and his summer experience at a Navigator training program and before the week was over he got me to commit to going to a Navigator get together at Dr Bremners on Friday night and to join a Bible study he would be starting the next week. He wanted everyone to share all of the spiritual blessings of knowing Jesus. While I had received Jesus when I was nine years old, God used Gene to help me grow spiritually. I, David, am honored to have known him as a friend.
Leellyn,
Wanted to let you know l’ve been thinking about you and your family since the passing of Gene. Please know that if you need anything, just let me know.
Leellyn:
We are just getting the news of Gene’s passing. Have been on the road. Gene was one of the great ones in the International student ministry . I asked about him at the end of August and just found out that he passed in August. May the Lord bless and keep you Leellyn. Enjoyed our time in Lawrence, KS when I visited. Always enjoyed talking to Gene and wrestling over some biblical subject. Keep up the good work. Blessings, Ken and Joyce Layton Penn State U main campus