Eugene (Gene) Ervin Birschbach, age 86, of New Holstein died Sunday, January 16, 2022, at Ascension Calumet Hospital, Chilton, surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born on September 29, 1935 to Martin Sr. and Elma (Schmitz) Birschbach. He lived on the family farm in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin and attended school in Mt Calvary. Gene served his country in the US Army in 1955 and was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky and spent time in Germany before he was discharged in 1957. On September 20, 1958 he married Mary Ann Steffes at St. Joe Catholic Church; they were married for 61 years. She preceded him in death on May 26, 2020. Gene began his musical career at the age of 10 with an accordion; he later switched to the drums. He formed the Gene Birschbach Orchestra in 1966 playing beautiful music for numerous weddings and dances until 1998. He especially enjoyed playing alongside his two sons, Mark and Michael. Gene received the Wisconsin Orchestra Leaders Association Award in 1990. He enjoyed watching the Brewers and the Packers. Gene worked at Kohler Company from 1959 and retired in 2000; later that year, he started working for the Calumet County Ag Assn. at the Calumet County Fairgrounds and officially retired in 2017. Gene was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New Holstein since 1960. He was also a member of the Catholic Knights and Holy Name Society in New Holstein and the Eagles Men's Auxiliary in Chilton. Gene is survived by his nine children: Mark (Julie) Birschbach of Chilton, Debbie (Gary) Bruckner of Kiel, Linda (Ronald) Zipperer of Manitowoc, Laurie (Allan) Petrie of Kiel, Michael (Jacqueline) Birschbach of Glenbeulah, Cynthia (Todd) Frish of New Holstein, Sharon (Kerry) Rumpff of Kiel, Lisa (Steven) Meyer of Chilton, and Janice (Andrew) Spaeth of Random Lake. He is also survived by twenty-two grandchildren: Jill (Marlon) Valle, Kelly (Matt) Gevaert, Rachel (Isaac) Thiel, Andrew Birschbach, Leah (Brad) Woelfel, Angela (Brandon) Wilkens, Alyssa Bruckner and fiancé Mike Kenowski, Crystal (Rick) Bales, Jason (Amber) Petrie, Rebecca (Taylor) Placek, Jordan Birschbach and special friend Allison vonBrevern, Nicole Birschbach and special friend, Michael Prokop, Jenna and Justin Frish, Kaylin (Logan) Engel, Joshua Kleinhans, Paige, Peyton, and Hope Meyer, Zachary, Jacob, and Mitchell Spaeth. Six step-grandchildren, Cory Kleinhans, Jessica (Cody) Buerger, Gina (Kevin) Gutschow, Jesse (Jenna) Rumpff, Samantha (Joshua) Fitzgerald, Katrina Rumpff and special friend, Kyle; Seventeen great grandchildren: Emme Valle, Payton Jeske, Jackson and Alessandra Gevaert, Adelyn Thiel, Bryson and Beckett Thome, Trevyn and Kenley Woelfel, Charli Wilkens, Calvin, Grady, and Rozalyn Bales, Lincoln and Bentley Petrie, Carter Placek, Diana Engel and two great-grandchildren on the way (baby Placek) and (baby Wilkens); seven step great-grandchildren, Connor Woelfel, Jaelyn Neils, Waylon Buerger, Madyson and Kaylee Gutschow, Kamlynn and Easton Rumpff; one brother, Martin (Lorraine) Birschbach; Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Scott Gratton, Delores Petrie, Patricia Birschbach, Donald (Joan) Steffes, Joe (Raye) Steffes, Vern (Gail) Steffes, Judy Zingsheim; a special family friend, Gene Burg; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann, his parents Martin Sr. and Elma, one son-in-law, Jeffry Kleinhans; a step-grandchild, Dylan Kleinhans; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leo and Katherine Steffes; his siblings: Wilfred (Yvonne) Birschbach, Conrad (Evelyn) Birschbach, Anthony Birschbach, Daniel Birschbach and Edith Gratton, his brothers-in-law: Eugene Steffes, Sylvan Steffes, Ed Zingsheim, Elmer Petrie and Henry Birschbach, one sister-in-law, Donna Steffes. A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New Holstein. Services for Gene will be live streamed through the parish website www.threeparishesonefaith.org Gene will be laid to rest in the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. THERE WILL BE NO VISITATION PRIOR TO THE MASS. Gene's family expresses their sincere appreciation to New Holstein first responders and the staff of Ascension Calumet Hospital and Calumet County Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion given to him. The Sippel Funeral Home in New Holstein is assisting (920) 898-4300 www.sippelfuneralhome.net.