Gene Burkett, 72, of Grinnell died on December 6, 2020, at his home of natural causes. A Celebration of Life service has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 11th, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, with Rev. Jim Dotson of Montezuma, officiating Burial will be in Rock Creek Cemetery, rural Jasper County. The service will be live streamed on the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page. Memorial contributions may be designated to the Carroll Gene Burkett Memorial Fund. Gene was born on February 17, 1948, in Greenbrier, Faulkner County, Arkansas, the son of Thurman and Bessie McGinty Burkett. He was raised and educated in Conway, Arkansas and soon after his education he moved to Grinnell. He continued to make his home in Grinnell where he helped raise his five children. Gene was employed with Maytag Company in Newton in the maintenance department. He retired from there after 25 years. He was a member of the U.A.W. #997. Gene was a big fan of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood and loved watching "Western movies." He enjoyed his cups of coffee and eating his sweet candy; he was known for his homemade fudge. He enjoyed his home, building things by hand, and was known for his welding projects. He also enjoyed Montana and the Rocky Mountains. Gene is survived by four children, Allan (Teri) Burkett of Newton, Deanna Burkett of Independence, Missouri, Stephanie (Tom) Chiarito of Plainfield, Illinois, and Shane Burkett of Coralville; four siblings, Shelby Burkett, Geraldine Sanders, and Matti Duncan, all of Grinnell, and Glenda Heaslet of Conway, Arkansas; eleven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Chad Burkett in 2001; and four siblings, Doyle, Vance, and Dwight Burkett, and Jennie Reed.