Gene Papka

Gene Papka, of Rockford, passed away Monday March 28, 2011 in his home.nbsp; He was born September 4, 1938 in Watertown, SD;son of Floyd and Beatrice Papka.nbsp; He married Judi Knapp Seaton in Rockford in November of 1997.nbsp; Gene worked for Chrysler, retiring in 1996 after 30 years.nbsp; He also worked at Illinois Plywood, Union Special Machine and Arnolds engineering all in the Marengo, Huntley area.nbsp; He served in the Army from 1960-1962, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany.nbsp; Member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, The Moosenbsp;Lodge in Belvidere and Harmony Club in Rockford.nbsp; Graduated from Clark High School in Clark SD.nbsp; At age 17, Gene struck out on his own from South Dakota and landed in northern Illinois to earn his livelihood.nbsp; Gene enjoyed a great many things in life but his greatest passions were fishing (anywhere, anytime), playing cards with Judi and friends, and spending time with his grandchildren.nbsp;
Survivors include his wife Judi; son, Mike (Nora) Papka of Batavia and their children, Zoey and Tom; son, Mark of Dekalb; brothers, Harry Papka of Belvidere and Melvin (Kay) Papka of Marengo;nbsp;special niece and nephew Pat Piskie and Ed Nash; special aunt, LaVern Papka of Watertown, SD; and his extended family, Doug (Shelly) Seaton and their children, Brittni (Wayne), Kyle, Mav and Bo; nbsp;Micki (Kyle) Jacobson and their children, Robert and Lucas; great-granddaughter, Seven.nbsp; Predeceased by his parents, brothers, Richard, Robert and Harold and his sister, Shirley.
Services at 11am Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Mount Olive Lutheran Church.nbsp; Visitation from 9:30am until time of service, Wednesday in the church.nbsp; In lieu of flowers, memorials to Mount Olive and Northern Illinois Hospice.nbsp; Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel assisted the family. Express online condolences at