Charles A. Papcke, Elkhorn  (1926 - 2008)

October 10, 1926 - August 20, 2008
Charles A. Papcke, 81, of County Road A, Elkhorn, WI, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. He was born on Oct. 10, 1926, in the Town of Richmond, WI, the son of Carl and Lillian (Christensen) Papcke. He attended Millard Grade School from 1932 to 1940. Charles graduated from Whitewater City High School with the Class of 1944. He then attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Farm Short Course in 1948. On May 21, 1948, at the First United Methodist Church of Whitewater, he was united in marriage to Elaine Leta Sweno. Elaine died on March 19, 2001. Since 1932 the Papcke family has farmed on County Road A in the Town of Sugar Creek. Charles was active in LaGrange 4-H, Whitewater FFA, Walworth County Farm Bureau, Associated Milk Producers, Inc. District #1, Elkhorn Area School Board, annual Millard community picnic, charter member of the Walworth County Young Homesteaders, life member of the Walworth County Fair, member of the Heart Prairie Cemetery Board, Wisconsin Master Farmer Assoc., Walworth County FSA, Walworth County Unit of Wisconsin Towns Assoc. and supervisor for the Town of Sugar Creek, Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn Area Fire Dept. and Walworth County Land Conservation Committee. On Sept. 7, 1974, a barn fire displaced their dairy herd and Charles was injured in the fire. The family completely rebuilt their dairy operation, and it was showcased at the first annual Walworth County Dairy Breakfast on their farm June 14-15, 1977. The family hosted the breakfast again in 2001 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Charles’ pride and joy was a 1956 Farmall “400” that he restored.
He is survived by his four children: Sharri (Willis) Loveless of Elkhorn, Becky (Dale) Sjoerdsma of East Troy, Randy (Diane) Papcke of Elkhorn, and Terry Charles (Kathy) Papcke of Elkhorn; grandchildren: John Charles Beane, Jennifer (Mike) Bidlack, Derrick and Skyler Papcke, all of Elkhorn, Tyson Sjoredsma of East Troy, Melissa (Tim) Macomber of Baltimore, MD, Paul Bowlen of Calgary, Canada, and Jacquelyn Bowlen of New York, NY; great-grandchildren: Tyler and Brody Charles Bidlack, Kate Bowlen, Rylee and Savannah Macomber; one brother, Harry (Virginia) Papcke of Madison, WI; nephew, Mark (Linda) Papcke of Grafton, WI; brother-in-law, Arnold (Marie) Sweno of Waunakee, WI; two sisters-in-law, Betty and Shirley Sweno, both of Whitewater; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Elaine; his parents; a brother, Gerald; and two brothers-in-law, Eugene and Howard Sweno.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at MILLARD COMMUNITY CHURCH at the corner of County Roads A and O, with Rev. Joyce Rich officiating. Burial will be in Heart Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday at HAASE-DERRICK-LOCKWOOD FUNERAL HOME, 730 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn, WI, and Monday at the CHURCH from 12 noon until the time of service. Memorials may be made in Charles’ name to: Our Hope of Burlington-UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, PO Box 131, Burlington, WI 53105; or Bethel United Methodist Church, W5110 County Road A, Elkhorn, WI 53121; or FFA/4-H Memorial Fund. For online obituary and guest registry www.hldfuneralhomes.com