Lifelong Siskiyou County resident Eugene Michael Acquistapace passed away June 5, 2012 at Madrone Hospice in Yreka. He was 71 years old.

Gene was born December 2, 1940 in Weed to Fred and Annie Acquistapace. He attended school in Weed and graduated from Weed High School. He joined the U.S. Army right out of high school and was stationed in Germany. Once out of the Army, Gene formed a band called the Nocturnals. The band toured all over the West Coast, and auditioned for Steve Allen, the famous producer/song writer/musician. His band battled Paul Revere and the Raiders and pushed them off the stage, winning the battle. They cut a record called "Stag Line" in 1963.

Gene worked with his father for a time in a hardware store before he bought his father out and turned the store into a furniture store. Later, he sold the store and started an excavating business. He built homes in Mount Shasta and Edgewood that he and his wife Julie lived in.

Gene is survived by his wife of 45 years, Julie; three children, Mark Acquistapace of Edgewood, Monte Acquistapace and his fiancé Laural Morton of Redding, and Kimberly Yaeger and her husband Jason of Medford; and two grandchildren, Bella and Kodiak Yaeger.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church in Weed. Private interment will be at Edgewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097, or Mercy Hospice Mount Shasta, 914 Pine Street, Mount Shasta, CA 96067.