Eugene Herman "Geno" Waechter

Eugene H. Waechter, 91, Overland Park, KS passed away July 20, 2019. Memorial services will be at 10:00 am, Sat., July 27 at Atonement Lutheran Church., 9948 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm, Friday at the church. Private inurnment at Johnson County Memorial Gardens will follow at a later date. Kindly omit flowers. The family requests contributions to the Atonement Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

Gene was born on October 10, 1927 to Isabelle M. & Wolfgang A. Waechter in South Bend. Indiana. He graduated from John Adams High School, served in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant in Korea and received an Honorable Discharge. He worked at the Studebaker Car plant after his military service for a short period of time. He was a devoted Notre Dame fan. He left South Bend and was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. where he worked while attending Southeastern University. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

During his service at the FBI Headquarters, he led tours and had many conversations with the Director J. Edgar Hoover. He served in the Detroit, Michigan office as a Special Agent until April 1956 when he was transferred to the Kansas City office. He later transitioned to a career in sales which began in broadcast sales and then to chemical sales at Meyer Labs. Additionally, he went back to the FBI doing background investigations.

He made his permanent home in Overland Park, Kansas. He is a member of Atonement Lutheran Church and is a past member of the Kiwanis, 20-30 Club and various civic organizations. He also is a past chair of the Heart of America Chapter of the Former Special Agents of the FBI. He has been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Red Coaters since 1967 and served five years on the Board of Directors. He was also the Security Representative of the National Football League in Kansas City from 1967 until 1972 and was very proud of the 1969 Super Bowl ring that was given to him by the late Head Coach Henry “Hank” Stram. Gene never met a person he didn't like and was proud of his service with the FBI. He was a member of the team that solved the first bombing of a commercial jet in the United States - a Continental Airlines plane wherein 57 people lost their lives and a few other notable cases.

Gene is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years Betty whom he met while they were working for the FBI in Washington, D.C.; his daughter Janice Lee Preston and husband Mark; son James E. Waechter and wife Jackie; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and many great friends.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.speakschapel.com.
(Arrangements: Carson-Speaks Chapel 816-252-7900)