++A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 21st at 1:00 PM at Faranda's Banquets, 302 Grove Street in DeKalb, IL.++

Eugene Raymond Finn died on July 16, 2024 at home from complications of being paralyzed by a reckless driver who rear ended him October 24, 2023.

He was born in Amboy, IL to Joseph and Victoria (Haluch) Finn, the eldest of six children on March 18, 1937.  The family moved to DeKalb when Gene was ten.  He graduated from DeKalb High School in 1955, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September, 1955.  He spent two years as a disbursing clerk on the anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in the Caribbean, with their base in Cuba.  He went on several deployments, including a secret mission to Antarctica for over a month.

After his honorable discharge in September 1957, he moved to Chicago.  He attended evening classes at DePaul University while working in Chicago.  Gene got his big opportunity when a friend told him there was a job opening at Finchley Men's Wear on Jackson Blvd, right next to DePaul, for a new clothing style called Ivy League.  Gene and his friend, Don O'May were the first two employees of the Finchley University Shop.  Gene was a salesman and assistant buyer.  He also was their model in newspaper and magazine ads.  Gene worked for Finchley until they sold the Chicago Store.

In 1963, after Finchley closed, Gene temporarily moved back to DeKalb.  He worked part-time at Andy's Tavern, where he met, by chance, his future wife, Beverly Bosinske, who had come to DeKalb  to do her graduate work.  Bev encouraged Gene to follow his dreams of one day owning his own business.  The relationship led to marriage on August 21, 1965 and the opening of Finn's Ltd. September 1, 1965.  Many of the clothing manufacturers Gene became familiar with at Finchley were now in Finn's Ltd., in DeKalb.  Finn's became known as the "Go To" store in Northern Illinois for the Ivy League look with the Finchley tradition of quality and service.  Many customers were well-known, famous people like movie stars, congressmen, models and business executives, who traveled  to DeKalb specifically for Finn's impeccable attention to detail and cutting edge fashion in exclusive lines that no one else could get.  Gene employed many young people during his years in business and was a mentor to all of them.  He was an inclusive employer well before it became popular.  Finn's was in business for 34 years in three different locations, closing December, 1999 with his retirement.

In addition to being a "foodie", Gene liked being on the go and talking with people.  Buying trips for the latest in tailored clothing and sportswear often took him to Southern California, Las Vegas and New York.  Gene's trendsetting nature carried over to vacation choices.  The Caribbean was always a favorite because of his time spent in pre-Castro Cuba.  Special beach trips with his family for snorkeling, often international, and to destinations that had not yet been developed, were the highlight  of each year.  During these vacations, an impressive sea shell collection was amassed that many Sycamore students were able to see during Gene's wife's special presentations about the sea.  Summer trips to Fontana Beach on Lake Geneva with grandchildren were Gene's special joy.  He especially liked jumping off the pier with the kids, sometimes ten times in one day.  The grandkids will always cherish their most recent visit  with him which was only one month before his accident.  Gene biked, walked or exercised every day and took excellent care of his health.  He enjoyed landscaping, especially with prairie grasses, and took pleasure in feeding the birds.  He also was the clean up man for the garden debris.  He served as the delivery man for the excess produce from the big garden taken to friends, family and local food pantries.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian; brothers, Larry and Don; brother-in-law, Mark Lampard; great nephew, Jake Verschoor; and sisters-in-law, Susan and Karen.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly; sons, Darren, Brendan (Jenny), and Sean; grandchildren, Nolan, Fiona, Erin, Logan and Connor; brothers, Richard (Diane) and John (Diane); sister, Janette (Mark) Lampard; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends and business associates.

Gene's family thanks Kishwaukee Hospital, Javon Bea Hospital, Van Matre Rehabilitation Center, Bethany Nursing Home, Absolute Home Wellness, Visiting Angels and Transitions Hospice for care provided to Gene.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 21st at 1:00 PM at Faranda's Banquets, 302 Grove Street in DeKalb, IL.

To sign the online guest book, go to http://www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com