Goodman- Eugene S. "Gene" Magera, 82, of Goodman, Wis., passed away Monday, March 8, 2021, at Maryhill Manor, Niagara, Wis. He was born July 9, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Stanley and Stella (Sopkowicz) Magera. Gene grew up in Chicago and graduated from St. Rita High School, class of 1956. Following graduation, he attended Oconomowoc Seminary for four years. Gene proudly served in the United States Air Force, stationed in Texas, until his honorable discharge. It was in the Air Force that he first learned about computers. Gene had a long career in the computer industry, beginning with early computing machines in the Air Force, eventually becoming an expert at reel-to-reel and punchcard-driven mainframes. Eventually, he went into teaching and training others on these technologies. Gene worked with several companies over the years, including Honeywell, Digital Equipment, and Platinum Technologies, finally retiring in 2006 after over 40 years in the industry. He wrote a book on "The Standards of Computer Operations" and saw computers go from filling entire rooms to something he could hold in his hands. Gene loved the outdoors and was very fond of the time he spent as a child visiting his family farm in Goodman. He spoke about those visits often, and in 1978 brought his five children from Texas to visit the family farm where he taught them to fish for trout in a stream and showed them the operations of a working dairy farm. Whenever he could, he would take his children camping or fishing, or hiking. In the fall of 1980, he guided all five of his kids to the top of Mount Rogers in Virginia, burying his daughter Dallas' first lost tooth at the summit. At the urging of his sons, Gene took up archery and learned to bow hunt with his boys in East Texas. His natural athleticism allowed him to become a very skilled archer, and he would routinely challenge his boys to competitions. Gene always loved a good competition and attended St. Rita's high school on a football scholarship. His senior year, he was listed as a 6'3" 195 lb. tailback, which was a considerable size for his time. Gene always supported his children's athletic pursuits with great passion. He could always be heard cheering on the sidelines of his son's soccer games and once flew his 11-year-old son from Houston to Dallas, Texas, just to participate in their league's championship game. He was a passionate Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers fan, always telling his children stories about the great Bart Starr and Roger Staubach. He loved to wear his Cowboys sweater anytime he could. Gene was a talented musician, training on the accordion from a very young age and recording at least one standard on a vinyl 45 record. He would regularly entertain his young children at Christmas time by playing Christmas carols for them on his accordion late into the night. In 1985, Gene met the love of his life, Bonnie (Vicki) Thompson, who he married at Reunion Tower in Dallas on December 21, 1986. They shared 36 wonderful years by each other's side. Vicki Magera still resides in Goodman. He is also survived by his three sons, Joseph Magera and wife Becky, James Magera, John Magera, and wife Karin, daughter Dallas (Magera) Miller and husband Jeff, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two nieces, and one nephew. In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his sister Camille (Magera) Rector, the mother of his children Deanna Stocker, daughter Mary DeAnn (Magera) Manrriquez, and grandson George Harward. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Armstrong Creek, Wis. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Goodman, Wis. The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Florence, Wis., to honor Gene's legacy of life. You may leave a condolence or tribute for Gene's family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.