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Gene Tormohlen, 81, Lawrenceville, Georgia, (formerly of Holland, Indiana) passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018, at The Reserve at Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife Julie by his side.

He was born in Holland at his home on May 12, 1937, to Albert and Louise (Weitkamp) Tormohlen. He married Julie Stafford of Leonardville, Kansas, on April 26, 1964.

Gene graduated from Holland High School in 1955 where he was a three-year starter and standout for the Holland Dutchmen basketball team. He earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Tennessee where he was a three-year starter, and earned All American honors his senior year. Gene still holds all rebounding records for the University of Tennessee.   

Gene was drafted in 1959, his Senior year, and had a 10-year professional playing career, the last six years being with the NBA St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks. Following his playing career he became an Assistant Coach in the NBA for 8 years before spending the rest of his career scouting for the Los Angeles Lakers, retiring in 2011.

In 1987, Gene was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2009 was voted as one of the top 20 players in Tennessee’s 100 year history.

Gene is survived by his wife Julie (Stafford), of Lawrenceville, Georgia; a daughter Gina of Eugene, Oregon; a son Tommy, his wife Shonda, and two grandsons, TJ and Gunnar, of Williamsport, Tennessee. Also surviving are three sisters, Annette (Bruce, deceased) Kahle of Finlay, Ohio, Phyllis (Paul, deceased) Luker of Huntingburg and Darlene (Dave) Smith of Holland; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Betty (Al) Wenzel of Jasper.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Campus Church of Christ, 1525 Indian Trail Lilburn Road, Norcross, GA 30093 and on Saturday, January 5, at 2 p.m. at the Holland United Methodist Church, 205 Second Ave., Holland. A meal will be served following the service at the Holland Methodist Church for all family and friends.

Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to each service and immediately following.

In lieu of flowers , the family asked that memorial contributions be made in Gene’s memory to “Catch-A-Dream Foundation” — For Youth with Precious Little Time to Lose; https://www.catchadream.org/tributes/memorial/

Cards can be mailed to Tormohlen Family, 4594 Turkey Creek Road, Williamsport, TN 38487.