Gene Stille, Chairman of Nugget Markets, Passes Away at 89

The chairman of Woodland, Calif.-based Nugget Market Inc., which operates 16 stores in Northern California, has died.

Eugene “Gene” Noel Stille, 89, died peacefully in his sleep Jan. 16, according to his family.

A third generation grocer who literally grew up in the family grocery business, Stille’s passions in life were his family, friends and his work at the much-admired regional grocery chain.

Eugene Stille photograph courtesy of Nugget Markets

Nugget was founded by the father-and-son team of William and Mack Stille in 1926, according to a company history. Gene Stille, Mack's son, joined the family business full time in 1953. Prior to that, Stille attended Woodland High School and Sacramento Community College, and served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. While stationed in Biloxi, Miss., and on a three-day pass visiting Baltimore, he met his wife, Joan Hoffman, to whom he was married for 62 years prior to her passing in 2013.

His connections to his hometown of Woodland, where he grew up and raised four children with his wife, were deep and strong as the genesis of Nugget Markets. Gene succeeded his father as president in 1960, and he turned over the business to his son Eric in 1990. Gene grew the business over the course of his lifetime, his family said, steadfastly focused on service, quality, value, servant leadership and local communities. He was an active leader in the United Grocers Association and California Grocers Association, a member of the Masonic Order and Woodland Lions Club, and served on a number of community boards.

“Most importantly, Gene was a fun-loving, hard-working, spirited person who was always willing to offer a helping hand. His contagious smile and positive attitude inspired his family and everyone he met. Gene was a friend to all and will be dearly missed by many,” according to a statement by his family.

Gene is survived by his four children—Gene Noel (Patty), Greg (Susy), Anne Engstrom (Mark) and Eric (Kate)—as well as 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is planned for him on Feb. 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be directed to Yolo Hospice Inc.