Imery “Gene” Millang, 73, of Freeborn died Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, at his home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells with the Rev. Scott Williams officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service Saturday. Interment will be at Freeborn Cemetery, with military honors accorded by Freeborn American Legion Post No. 552. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, visit www.brussheitner.com.

Imery Gene was born Jan. 11, 1945, in Thompson, Iowa, the son of Irone and Eunice (Hove) Millang. He was one of 11 children. Gene graduated from Freeborn High School in 1963, and went on to attend the University of Minnesota for two years until he enlisted in the service.

He honorably served his country in the U.S. Army from February 1966 to August 1968 in Germany, and then Vietnam.

He was united in marriage to Nancy Christensen on June 16, 1973, at Freeborn Congregational Church.

Gene worked with explosives, traveling across the country to demolish buildings. He worked for Northrup King of northeast Minneapolis and Controlled Demolition (CDI) for many years. He also worked in Mankato, salvaging scrap metal from railroad cars.

Gene enjoyed collecting Budweiser and Coca-Cola memorabilia, antiques and pieces of buildings he had imploded. He was a member of Wells Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1775, Freeborn American Legion Post No. 552 and the Albert Lea Eagles Post No. 2258.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jerry; brothers-in-law Larry Schutrop, Merle Zierke and Milford Hamre; sisters-in-law Ruth Haugen and Shirley Wolfe; mother and father-in-law Irene and George A. Christensen; one niece; and three nephews.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nancy, of Freeborn; siblings Joan Hamre of Wallingford, Iowa, Carol Zierke of Blue Earth, Arlowe Haugen of Apple Valley, Ellie Schutrop of New Richland, Orvis (Sue) Millang of Bismarck, North Dakota, Jerold Millang of Nashville, Tennessee, Janet (Gary) Korogi of New Richland, David Millang of Hartland and Deborah (Kenneth) Boley of Byron; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.