Gene Lewis "Gino" Horner
Sep 9, 1949 -
May 1, 2024
Gene Lewis Horner, a cherished member of the Alaska community and devoted family man, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2024, at the age of 74. Born on Sept. 9, 1949, to Jack and Jean Horner, Gene's early life was filled with music and service. He honorably served in Vietnam and as a member of the 4th Infantry Army Band, playing the bugle and trumpet.
In 1972, Gene and his beloved wife Priscilla, married for 53 years, made their home in Alaska. He worked as a union carpenter and pile driver, helped shape the infrastructure of a growing state, working alongside a generation of men and women dedicated to building a better future.
Gene was a cornerstone of his local community, known for his boundless energy and commitment to service. He was a man who never met a stranger; everyone he met became a friend. Passionate about helping others, Gene was deeply involved in supporting recovery and sobriety, for himself and many others, changed countless lives for the better.
His musical talents were a gift to his comrades during his military service and continued to resonate in his community. Gene played TAPS for at least 100, and sometimes over 300, veterans' funerals each year, bringing solace and honor to the ceremonies. He also served as a board member and a tireless volunteer for the Mat-Su Community Band.
Gene is survived by his wife, Priscilla; son, Jack; daughter-in-law, Laura Sampson; grandsons, Dwight, Delano and Samson; and sisters, Jacquelyn Horner Borden and Darlene Horner Teegarden. His legacy is one of love, service and music, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him.
Services will be held on May 21, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at Northgate Church in Wasilla; burial with full military honors will follow at the National Cemetery on JBER. His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Celebrate Recovery, Operation Stand Down or the Mat-Su Community Band, continuing Gene's lifelong commitment to helping others. Gene Horner will be deeply missed but forever remembered as a beacon of kindness and strength in our community.
