Eugene "Gene" Stanley Wawrzyniak

Eugene Stanley Wawrzyniak, "Gene" and "Geno" to those who knew and loved him, 83, of Sturgeon Bay, died Saturday evening, May 3, 2025 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay with family at his side.

He was born September 7, 1941 on the south side of Chicago, IL, the only child of Edmund and Estelle (Cieslak) Wawrzyniak. Gene was raised Catholic and went on to graduate from Holy Trinity High School on the northwest side of Chicago with the class of 1959.

He initially worked as an x-ray tech in the Chicago area before going on to study medical education at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

Gene married Penelope "Penny" Jean Schleg on June 13, 1964 at Gene's family parish, St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Chicago.

Following his graduation from Creighton in 1967, he began his career of teaching x-ray technology.

Gene went to work for St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield in 1979 and was a teacher and program director of the Radiography school for 26 years until his retirement in 2005.

He and Penny moved to Door County where they always dreamed of retiring and resided in Sturgeon Bay.

Together, they attended Our Lady of Peace Parish in Marshfield and Messiah Lutheran Church in Madison. Gene was a member of the local Knights of Columbus in Marshfield.

He had a passion for sports. Gene loved playing in sport leagues of all kinds; softball, golf, and bowling while living in Marshfield. He was an avid fisherman throughout his life. While retired in Sturgeon Bay, Gene went fishing all across Door County with great fishing buddies and loved golfing at 27 Pines Golf Course. He even made a hole-in-one on #6 at 80 years old while playing around with his family.

Gene and Penny were blessed with over 54 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on October 19, 2018.

Gene will be missed by his children, Michael (Pam) Wawrzyniak of Lexington, VA and Jennifer (Douglas) Dettlaff of McFarland; grandchildren, Adela and Josh Wawrzyniak and Sophie and Sawyer Dettlaff; sister-in-law, Fran Schleg of North Judson, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; siblings-in-law, Tom Schleg and Jim (Bev) Schleg; and other relatives.

Gene's life will be celebrated with a memorial service held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 5202 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI 53716 with Pastor Jeff Vanden Heuvel officiating.

Memorials may be given in his name for DOOR CANcer, Inc. (P.O. Box 423, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; www.doorcancer.com/donate).

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Wawrzyniak family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gene may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

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