Roger Papke

With a heart passionate about the education of the young, Roger Papke was a devoted teacher within his community for over 30 years. He was a take charge person, and the patriarch of his family who was happiest with his family gathered around him. Roger was a man of faith who was proud of his Irish heritage, even tracing his roots back to the 1800s. He was modest and kind, intelligent and spiritual, always making the most of every moment he was given – even as his health challenges restricted his way of life more and more.

As many American men were serving in WWII overseas beginning in December of 1941, people back home gathered around radios in order to remain informed of any news regarding the war effort. Automobile production had ceased and rationing on food supplies began in 1943. It was also in 1943 that in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Herbert and Margaret (Reilly) Papke were celebrating the birth of their son, Roger Herbert, on January 27th. Born as the oldest of five children in his family, Roger was raised in the family home on Gratiot Street NW where he would live throughout his entire lifetime. His father worked as a machinist while his mother was a homemaker who tended to their active family. Roger’s father also ran a novelty toy company, Valley City Novelty Company, out of their basement, and Roger often helped. He was very close to his Grandpa and Grandma Reilly, and after he and his father built a family cottage on Bills Lake in Newaygo County, many wonderful family memories were made there.

Roger attended Oakleigh School and from an early age he excelled academically. He went on to graduate from Creston High School in 1961 and then earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Roger didn’t stop there though, he also earned his master’s degree in education from Central Michigan University after fulfilling his student teaching requirements at South High School. He went on to teach at Riverside Elementary, and then at Creston High School for over 20 years. While he was teaching at Creston, he also taught night classes at Grand Rapids Community College.

Although his work was very important to Roger, he realized that there was definitely more to life than just working. One of the things he enjoyed most was traveling, and he did so all over the world. Roger traveled to Costa Rica, Panama, Europe, Ireland, Alaska, California, and to Savannah, Georgia – always with his good friend Patricia Livingston. He also loved Lake Michigan sunsets so much that he bought a cottage on the lake in Muskegon where he loved to entertain friends and relatives. Roger collected polar bears and Coca-Cola nostalgia, and he never got rid of anything! He loved to snow ski and water ski, and was often found gardening around his home. Roger always remained abreast of current events, and was an avid viewer of CNN. He enjoyed a wide variety of music including country music and Irish folk music. He officially retired in 1996 at the age of 50, but continued to teach night classes at the community college.

Family was always very important to Roger throughout his entire lifetime. He was deeply saddened with the death of his father in 1975, and then his mother in 1980. Roger was passionate about his Irish heritage and genealogy. He was very close to his nieces and nephews, and was continually interested in how their school was going, eager to help them in any way he could. Roger was the patriarch of his family, and was always the one to organize the family gatherings.

Following a routine doctor’s visit in 2002, Roger was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition in which there is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause. Initially he had no symptoms, but he later developed breathing difficulties that eventually led to a restriction of his activities, and required him to be on oxygen all the time. He did fulfill his love for traveling one last time when he visited California in March of this year. Then this past September Roger developed an infection which required him to make regular visits to the University of Michigan Medical Center where he received specialized care in his disease. Roger was in the process of being screened for a lung transplant, but was admitted to the university hospital where his health quickly diminished. He drew his last breath surrounded by his family and friends.

Roger Papke was not one to sit idly by, rather he was a take charge sort of person who made things happen. He was devout in his Catholic faith having attended Mass weekly, his spirituality important to him. It was easy to see by the way Roger lived his life that his faith was always very vibrant to him. Roger traveled around the globe taking in the spectacular sights and sounds the world has to offer, yet some of his most treasured times were spent with his family. He was a dedicated teacher to whom educating the young was his highest calling. Roger was a beloved family leader and treasured friend who will be so dearly missed by all those who held him in their hearts.

Roger H. Papke died on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at University of Michigan Medical Center. Roger’s family includes his sister, Carol (John) Raczkowski, his brothers, Robert (Beverly) Papke; Thomas (Jana) Papke, William Papke; nieces and nephews, Jeffrey (Sherri) Papke, Carrie (Nathan) Whipple, Julie Papke, Russell (Anna) Papke, Andrew Raczkowski, Amanda (Daniel) Stierman, Katherine Raczkowski; 6 great nephews; special friends, Patricia Livingston, Matthew and Judy Burns and many other friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Margaret Papke and his niece, Sarah Raczkowski. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 224 Carrier NE. Relatives and friends may meet his family on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the Mass begins. A vigil service will be held at the funeral home Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory of him, sign his guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to St. Alphonsus Church Capital Fund, Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, or the Variety Club of Grand Rapids Tent 27.