He graduated from St. Luke Grade School and Cathedral High School in Belleville. He then graduated from the University of Notre Dame 1954, with a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree. The next two years were spent in the United States Army, 15 months of that time stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco in the 505th MP Battalion. He became a licensed architect in the State of Illinois and then held a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) and became a licensed architect in the additional states of Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, and New York.
Until his retirement in 1996, Gene was a principal in the firm of WHGK INC.- Architects, and its predecessor firms since 1956 and served as project architect for WHGK for the first three phases of construction of Belleville Area College, St. Clair County Jail, St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy, and many others. He was project architect for the first major downtown Belleville improvements on the Public Square and East and West Main streets in the 1970’s. Mr. Hausmann served as managing principal for the firm for much of his career.
He was active in civic affairs, serving as Chairman of the Belleville Historical Commission, Downtown Belleville Development and Redevelopment Commission and the City Planning Commission for many years. He had been the president of the Belleville Rotary Club, Serra Club, Philharmonic Society, Metro East Community Chorale, and Southern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He served for many years as Chairman of the Meredith Memorial Home Committee which directed the operations of this former Belleville retirement facility for the Catholic Diocese of Belleville.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann, nee Bedel, Hausmann, whom he married on July 6, 1957, at the University of Notre Dame Chapel; his parents, Edwin L., and Clotilda C., nee Fellner, Hausmann; his brother, Joseph (Jean Poskin) Hausmann; and his sister Dolores (George) Klein.
Eugene is survived by eight nieces and nephews, Peggy (Rosemary Hamlin) Hausmann, William (Marianne “Miki”) Hausmann, Laurie Hausmann, Lynn Marie (Terry) Corley, Karen Klein, Michael (Susanne) Bedell, Gregory (Caron) Bedell, and Stephen (Jennifer) Bedell;
a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald (Kathryn) Bedell;
numerous great-nieces and great-nephews;
and one great-great-niece.
Memorials may be made to the Poor Clare Monastery, Belleville, IL, Sisters of St. Benedict, Ferdinand, IN, or the Metro East Community Chorale. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Eugene Neff officiating.
Burial will follow at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.