Gene Raymon Argast

Gene Raymon Argast, 81, of Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2024, at Idaho Falls Community Hospital.

Gene was born on April 12, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, to Ray and Mary Argast. With his father serving in the Air Force, Gene grew up living in many places across the country. He graduated from high school in Hampden, Maine, in 1961. He attended Idaho State University studying electronics. While at ISU, he met his wife, Karen, and they were married in 1963. He earned a vocational certificate in 1967, and soon after, they moved to Idaho Falls.

Gene worked for Argonne National Lab at INEL for 31 years. He began his career as an Instrumentation and Controls Technician, and ended as a Staff Assistant in the Engineering division helping drive project changes. He retired in 1998. Many of his enduring friendships were with people he worked with.

Gene enjoyed sports and the outdoors. He played football in high school and city league basketball and softball. He played racquetball competitively for many years at the city and state level, winning several tournaments. He rode dirt bikes and even raced in his twenties. He was an avid hunter and had a yearly elk hunting excursion with his friends in the mountains near Salmon, Idaho, that always resulted in epic stories. Later, he took up shooting sporting clays. He loved not only the activities themselves, but everything that went into them. He was legendary for his detailed lists, sticky notes, plans, and equipment. If you forgot it, Gene had it or had a backup for it.

In later years, he and his wife spent the winters near Yuma, Arizona, and made a slew of new RV friends. He attempted to play golf, but that didn’t take. He enjoyed their spot next to the Colorado River while in Arizona and spending time across the border in nearby Algodones.

Gene is survived by his wife of 61 years, Karen Argast, his son, Jeff Argast, and his two grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. November 23, 2024, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road.