Eugene J. “Gene” Lackas, 75, of Theresa, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2011, at Kathy Hospice in the town of Polk following a 15-month courageous battle with multiple myeloma and renal disease.
He was born on May 7, 1936, in Theresa, the son of the late William and Adela (Wolf) Lackas and on April 18, 1959, he was united in marriage to Rita Rahmer at St. Claudius Catholic Church in St. Cloud.
Gene served his country in the U. S. Army, and was a long-time member of the Theresa Fire Department where he served as an Emergency Medical Technician for many years and as Fire Chief from 1975 to 1987. Gene and Rita owned and operated Gene’s Hardware Store in Theresa for 13 years. Gene will fondly be remembered as a “jack of all trades”. He worked as an electrician, a carpenter and repairing small engines just to name a few of his talents. He was an accomplished woodworker who made many beautiful wood pieces as gifts for family and friends. In addition to woodworking, Gene enjoyed camping, times “up north” and traveling. He was a member of and secretary of Catholic Order of Foresters and St. Theresa Catholic Church in Theresa.
Those Gene leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife, Rita; four children, Allan (Kim) Lackas of Brownsville, Dean (Patty) Lackas and Sandy (JR) Koenigs both of Theresa and Debbie (Joe) Weyer of Lomira; two brothers, Harold Lackas of Lomira and Donald (Rose) Lackas of Campbellsport; two sisters, Mildred Theisen and Eileen (Bruce) Petri both of Kewaskum; seven grandchildren, Chris and Ben Lackas, Denise and Bryan Lackas, Trevor (Ashleigh) Koenigs, Amber Koenigs and Chelsey (Joe) Mastey; a great-grandchild expected soon, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by a brother, Ruben (Frances) Lackas; a brother-in-law, Albert Theisen and a sister-in-law, Bernice Lackas.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Gene was held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 106 Church Street in Theresa. Father Dennis Budka officiated. Military honor rites followed Mass and burial was at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday in St. Theresa Memorial Gardens in Theresa.
Relatives and friends called at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of Mass.
The Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira was entrusted with Gene’s arrangements.
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He was born on May 7, 1936, in Theresa, the son of the late William and Adela (Wolf) Lackas and on April 18, 1959, he was united in marriage to Rita Rahmer at St. Claudius Catholic Church in St. Cloud.
Gene served his country in the U. S. Army, and was a long-time member of the Theresa Fire Department where he served as an Emergency Medical Technician for many years and as Fire Chief from 1975 to 1987. Gene and Rita owned and operated Gene’s Hardware Store in Theresa for 13 years. Gene will fondly be remembered as a “jack of all trades”. He worked as an electrician, a carpenter and repairing small engines just to name a few of his talents. He was an accomplished woodworker who made many beautiful wood pieces as gifts for family and friends. In addition to woodworking, Gene enjoyed camping, times “up north” and traveling. He was a member of and secretary of Catholic Order of Foresters and St. Theresa Catholic Church in Theresa.
Those Gene leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife, Rita; four children, Allan (Kim) Lackas of Brownsville, Dean (Patty) Lackas and Sandy (JR) Koenigs both of Theresa and Debbie (Joe) Weyer of Lomira; two brothers, Harold Lackas of Lomira and Donald (Rose) Lackas of Campbellsport; two sisters, Mildred Theisen and Eileen (Bruce) Petri both of Kewaskum; seven grandchildren, Chris and Ben Lackas, Denise and Bryan Lackas, Trevor (Ashleigh) Koenigs, Amber Koenigs and Chelsey (Joe) Mastey; a great-grandchild expected soon, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by a brother, Ruben (Frances) Lackas; a brother-in-law, Albert Theisen and a sister-in-law, Bernice Lackas.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Gene was held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 106 Church Street in Theresa. Father Dennis Budka officiated. Military honor rites followed Mass and burial was at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday in St. Theresa Memorial Gardens in Theresa.
Relatives and friends called at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of Mass.
The Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira was entrusted with Gene’s arrangements.