Genard Lane

Genard Lane came into this world on Feb. 14, 1939 and peacefully slipped away on Sept. 30, 2022 at the age of 82. He was born to George Lane, Jr. and Elnora L. Williams, of Dumas, Ark. When he was 4, he moved to Kansas City with his mother and grandmother, Martha Williams. Genard gave his life to Christ at an early age and was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which merged with St. Philip’s to become Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Paul. He grew up in Kansas City and attended Stowe Elementary and Northeast Junior High, and graduated from Sumner High School in 1957. He received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1962 from the Kansas State College of Pittsburg, where he became a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. After college, he moved to Philadelphia and worked as a substitute teacher. He traveled to the March on Washington in August 1963 with some jazz friends from Philly. Genard eventually settled in the Twin Cities area, where he’d come during college while working as a dining car waiter on the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1975, a routine physical revealed degenerative heart disease. He received a heart transplant on Feb. 26, 1986 from a 21-year-old who had died in a car crash and donated his organs. Genard was the fourth person to undergo the procedure at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He lived 36 more years and never took his bonus time for granted. After surgery, he returned to work as a pharmaceutical rep for Schering-Plough, retiring in 1988 after a 23-year career. Genard, who was 6-foot-4, played intramural basketball in college, and enjoyed tennis, racquetball and golf. Anyone who watched or discussed sports with him soon learned he was an opinionated side analyst for the Vikings, Wolves, Twins, Kansas City teams and all other sports. He was an avid fisherman, and loved hosting wild game parties where he served rabbit, squirrel, venison and, on occasion, pheasant. He was a student of tai chi and eastern philosophy, and cherished a trip to Hawaii where he performed tai chi on the beach. Genard went to family and high school reunions, traveled to Vegas, played chess and bridge, and looked forward to workouts with his Sit ‘N’ Fit friends. But jazz was his enduring passion. He knew many musicians in Kansas City, Philadelphia and the Twin Cities, and formed lasting friendships with staff at the Dakota jazz club, where a photo of him hangs behind the bar. He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter Cheri Lynn Lane of Suffolk, Va.; brothers Aaron Livingston and LeRoy Livingston, both of Kansas City, Mo. He is survived by grandson Marcus Street (father, Michael), of Dinwiddie, Va.; Arkansas siblings Edward Lane, Donna Lane, Rose Lane, Georgette Lane, Rita Lane, Stacey Lane; nieces Kindra (Norris) Livingston Tanner, Chloe Burgess; nephews Anthony (Kathy) Hall, Eric Hall, Roy (Kim) Livingston, Malique Bullard, Jaylin Pryor; cousin and friend since childhood Clem Carter; and legions of other relatives and friends. Services Oct. 22, Estes Funeral Chapel; 2201 Plymouth Av. N., Mpls 55411. Visitation 10 a.m.; service 11 a.m. Live stream: estesfuneralchapel.com. Genard was a loving and giving man. We will miss him dearly. He ended all conversations, phone calls and texts with: Peace ‘N’ Love (PNL)!

Genard Lane

February 14, 1939 - September 30, 2022