Francis "Gene" Choquette, Reno, NV

Gene left this earth on Saturday Dec 5th 2020 peacefully after a short battle with leukemia. Born in 1933 in Frankfort, Kansas, he was the youngest of 8 children. At age 3 he moved to and grew up in Sacramento, California. At age 17 he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Princeton during the Korean War.

After proudly serving our country from 1950 -1954 he headed to Dallas, Texas, to visit his sister. It was there, on a blind date that he met the woman of his dreams, Ann and they married in 1955. It was in Dallas where he went to work for the International Harvester Company and continued to work for the company for many years eventually transferring to the branch in Sparks in 1966. After leaving International, Gene and Ann started their own Penske Truck rental franchise. His success in the truck rental business led to the founding of Choquette's Truck Body and Equipment on Glendale in Sparks.

Gene was extremely active in the Reno /Sparks community with memberships as well as holding offices in the Sparks Rotary, The Nevada Executives Association and the Nevada Woodchucks. Gene was very proud of his service in the US Navy and was so honored to be able to go on a Nevada Honor flight in Oct 2014 to see the National memorials and meet others from the military. Gene's spirit of adventure was unsurpassed, into his 70s and 80s he experienced parasailing, hot air ballooning, Segway riding, and became the family corn hole champion. Gene's true passion was for woodworking. A skilled woodturner who was also a teacher and mentor to the members of the Nevada Woodchucks. Anyone who had ever received a piece of his artwork could truly see that each piece was made with an artisan's skill and passion.

Gene is survived by his bride of 65 years, Ann, their 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was known and loved in the area for his charm, generosity, quick wit and his ever-present smile.