Gene A. Davis

Gene “Geno” Davis, age 72, of Marshall, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer, concluding a long and fulfilling life.

Born on June 7, 1952, in Columbus, Wisconsin, Gene was the son of the late Earl Woodrow and Frances (Lewis) Davis. He graduated from Waterloo High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1985, Gene founded Badger Graphics Systems, serving as president until his retirement in 2017. He married Catherine (Cathy) Theobald in 1996. They loved spending time together at the lake, sporting events, auctions, and dinner with friends.

Gene cherished time with his grandchildren. Whether it was casting a line off the pier, flipping pancakes in the morning, or simply sharing a laugh, he found true joy in making them smile. Outside of family, Gene enjoyed golfing, fishing, cheering on Wisconsin sports teams, unwinding at his beloved cabin on Pelican Lake, and spoiling his dogs.

Gene will be remembered by his family and friends for being a generous, humble, thoughtful man with a quick and witty personality. He loved helping other people and serving his community. Sometimes it was a small gesture, like snow blowing every driveway in the neighborhood, and other times that meant finding a job at Badger Graphics for someone in need. His dedication to service extended to the broader community as well, through his roles on the Marshall School Board and the F&M Bank Board. Gene’s actions spoke louder than words, and his legacy of compassion will not be forgotten.

Gene is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Cathy Davis; his sons, Ben (Jaya) Davis and Brett “Spud” (Kristen) Davis; and his step-children, Nathan (Katie) Grundahl, Brittney Grundahl, and Andrea (Michael) Schneeberger. He was also the proud grandpa to Sydney, Brooklynn, Jocelyn, Camden, Belle, and Greta.

A celebration of Gene’s life will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, at the Oaks Golf Course Event Center. We invite family and friends to share memories, anecdotes, or speeches at 5 PM. Visitation from 3-7 PM.

If you would like to make a donation in Gene’s name, donations can be made to The Rainbow Hospice Foundation or UW Health: Carbone Cancer Center.