Eugene A. Spychalla
PORTAGE – Eugene A. Spychalla, age 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital.
Gene was born on July 22, 1937, in Antigo, Wisconsin, the son of Edward and Louise (Knapkavage) Spychalla. He married Loretta Jean Bobholz on October 17, 1964, in the St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Portage, Wisconsin.
Gene grew up poor, but rich in adventures with his brothers in the Baraboo area. His first job was at Neuman’s Drive-In and Gift Shop in Wisconsin Dells, serving crowds of tourists. He moved to Antigo during his junior year of high school and lived with his grandparents, Lawrence and Frances Knapkavage. While in Antigo, he worked at the Vulcan Corporation before moving to Pardeeville. He then worked at the Racine Glove Factory in Rio, where he met his future wife, Loretta.
Enlisting in the US Army Reserves in 1960, Gene served on active duty for ten months at Fort Bragg during the Berlin Crisis. He was transferred to the 322nd Chemical Company (Depot) in Baraboo, with an honorable discharge in 1966.
Gene used his supply clerk skills in positions at Sommer’s Hardware, Portage, and Badger Ordnance Works, before joining the Postal Service, in 1973. He worked as a mail handler, postal clerk, and window clerk in Portage, retiring in 2000.
He was the ultimate handyman, doing carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and automotive repairs throughout his life. He enjoyed Packer games, car shows, farm auctions and Sunday drives. In retirement, Gene enjoyed golf, playing at Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells with his friend Jerry Burns. He looked forward to monthly breakfasts with retired Post Office colleagues until illness prevented his attendance. He was a deeply curious person, striking up easy conversations with everyone he met. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta; children, Brenda (Richard Kunert) Spychalla and Scott Spychalla; brother, Duane (Juanita) Spychalla; sisters-in-law, Mary Spychalla and Marlene (James, Jr.) Hon; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Edward, Jr. and Jerome Spychalla.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Collin Kreple and Lindsay Everly, of UW Health Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic, for their compassionate and expert care and Brenda Stencil, of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, for her outstanding support. The family would also like to thank the medical staff at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital, for end-of-life support.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Portage, on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Fr. Savio Yerasani presiding. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, in Portage, with military honors given by the Portage Area Honor Guard. A visitation will be held at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home (www.pmmfh.com), in Portage, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to UW-Madison Department of Neurology ALS Research Fund or the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home, in Portage, is assisting the family.
