Obituary of Eugene Gary Ambs

Gene (Ollie) Ambs, 78, of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away September 7, 2020.  He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Gene is preceded in death by his parents,  June & Lucas Ambs and beautiful daughter, Stacey Ambs.  He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Kathy, two sons Scott (grandchildren Joshua, Alex & Annabelle) & Steven both of Phoenix, Arizona, two wonderful, supportive brothers, Robert of Battle Creek and Michael (Mary), Columbus, Indiana and his loving  family of in laws, Sandy Braund, Gene Lewis, Tom & Gail Lewis & Michael & Rachel Lewis.

Gene was a member of the Michigan Air National Guard for over 12 years, where he received the Valley Forge Cross that honored Guardsmen who performed acts of heroism at the risk of their own life.  In September, 1971, at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Upper Peninsula, Mi, Gene helped locate a homemade dynamite bomb, removed it from a fuel storage tank containing more than 600,000 gallons of jet fuel & disarmed the device. He also recovered 800 pounds of high explosives and several hundred blasting caps intended for future bombing attempts.

One of Gene's greatest joys was being a member of the Michigan State Police family.  Graduating from the 65th Recruit School in 1966, Gene served 25 years including in the latent print/ bomb squad unit, Lansing, the Bridgeport Crime Lab and finally ending his career as a Detective Sergeant, Cadillac Michigan.  Having been involved in over 450 homicides, he would boast at his retirement that he had left no crime unsolved.  Just two months before his official retirement date, Gene was featured on a nationally syndicated television show, TOP COP.  Featuring a case from 1989, the story detailed Gene's successful efforts over a nine day period in tracking a local woman who helped two convicts escape from prison and then went on multi-state crime spree, including a bank robbery in Wisconsin.  

Gene loved to tell stories & make people laugh, especially at family gatherings.  One of the original Beach Boys fans, Gene knew every word to every song and would love driving around in his corvette singing away.  When he wasn't working, you would find him on the golf course, perfecting his game, which not only got him qualified for the Michigan Amateur Open but also gave him the thrill of a  hole in one.  Over their 35 years together, Kathy & Gene shared the love cruising so much so that they sailed over 35 sailings, enjoying scuba & snorkeling in the Caribbean waters.

A family celebration of life will be held at a later time to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your charity of choice. Go Michigan State Spartans!