Obituary: Mitchell Gapa

Mitchell S. Gapa, age 67, of St. Germain, Wisconsin, formerly of Mokena, passed away suddenly on March 17 at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Gapa was born in Germany, graduated from SS. Cyril & Methodius School and Lemont High School in 1968. Employed as a shop foreman, service manager and general service manager of MI-Jack Products CE Division, and later as a Service Coordinator at Walter Payton Power and Equipment, retiring in 2012.

He fulfilled his lifelong dream by building a log home in the Northwoods. He loved the serenity of the Northwoods and enjoyed sharing his home with family and friends. Gapa enjoyed many hobbies including woodworking in his workshop, making custom knives and sheaths, hunting, fishing, golfing, snowmobiling, riding his Harley, especially with the Chitown Hog Chapter, Tinley Park. He was a member of Bo-boan/apple dumpling snowmobile clubs, lifetime member of E.A.A. (Experimental Aircraft Association), he was proud of achieving his pilots license, and he belonged to the Airline Owner Pilots Association.

Survived by his wife of 44 years, Rosemary, nee Smigiel, Gapa; his sisters, Emily (Fenton) Mereness, Helen (late Ray) Smith, and Claire (Ted) Ludas; his mother-in- law, Jane Smigiel; sisters-in- law, Mary Jo (Bob) Duckworth, Pat (Tim) Ruppert, and Jane (Jeff) Festin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Valentine Gapa; a brother, Chester Gapa; and his father-in-law, Henry Smigiel.

Visitation Friday, March 23, from 2 to 9 p.m. with Funeral Services at 8 p.m. at Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 108 Illinois St., Lemont. Cremation rites will be accorded. In lieu of flowers donations may be
made to Pickerel Lake Association, Oneida County, Wisconsin, c/o Whispering Pine Lodge, in memory of Mitch Gapa, 8440 Pinewood Dr. St. Germain, Wisconsin 54558.

Photos provided by Markiewicz Funeral Home.