On October 26, 2021, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather left his earthly body and traveled to Heaven to be with the Lord.  He was welcomed by his parents, Felix and Mary, brothers, Emmitt and Raymond, sister, Margaret Smith, and granddaughter, Abigail Hendrix. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 66 years, Zelma, three daughters, Susan McTierran, Martha Mikolajczyk, and Patsy Harrell, son, Bo, his sister, Gloria Schraub, grandchildren, Lesli Bauer, Katy Skaggs, Morgan Hendrix, Hunter Hendrix, Elizabeth Riecken, Michael Burg, great grandchildren, Ashton Kristynik, Chyler Kristynik and a great-great grandchild, Ryder Rinehart and numerous nieces, nephews.

Gene, to most or "Big Mike" to a few, was the second born of the three sons and two daughters of Felix and Mary Mikolajczyk.

After graduating from Poteet High School in 1950, he joined the Air Force, serving in the Korean War. Upon his return, he attended Texas Tech University earning a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.

Gene began his engineering career with Magnolia Petroleum (later becoming Mobil Oil) in Oklahoma. While working for Mobil Oli, he attended and received his Master's of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Gene and his growing family continued to live and prosper in Oklahoma City before moving his family to Edmond, Oklahoma. As the oil industry in Oklahoma took a downturn, Gene and his wife moved to Houston so he could continue working for the industry he had grown to love. After several years working on directional drilling techniques in Houston, he moved to New Zealand; sharing his knowledge and overseeing drilling exploration. After spending several years in New Zealand, he returned to Houston to pursue a growing passion for real estate and home renovation that continued into retirement.

Throughout his life, Gene was known by many as an avid sportsman, golfer, handyman, bargain hunter, and wine maker. To his family, he will always be known as dutiful husband and father.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Houston; https://seasonsfoundation.org/donate/ or c/o Allison Ostasher, 10318 Lake Road, Building C, Suite 102, Houston Texas, 77070