Eugene "Gene" E. Wachs, 83, of Arcadia, passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.
Gene was born in Winona, Minnesota on March 8, 1935, to Elmer and Lisette (Koetz) Wachs. He graduated from Winona Senior High school in 1953. He received a BS in Business Education in 1957 and a Master's Degree in Business in 1965 From Winona State. After completing six months of active duty training in 1957 through the National Guard, he started his first teaching position at Melrose, Wisconsin. In 1964, he married Romona Thomas of Arcadia. Gene and Mona then taught at Antigo High School before moving to Eau Claire where he taught business education subjects at North High School from 1966 until his retirement from teaching in 1990. Since 1990, Gene taught classes periodically for the Western Technical College.
As Executive Secretary, Gene coordinated the NWEA-Northwestern Wisconsin Education Association from 1974 until 2000. Under his guidance, the NWEA (teacher's convention) grew to several thousand attendees, 220 workshops, and 300 exhibitor tables. He was heavily involved in obtaining nationally known celebrities.
Gene owned several rental properties in Eau Claire and was elected president of the Eau Claire Apartment Association. He also was on the board and elected president of Mega Foods in Eau Claire. As a side hobby, he was a wedding photographer.
Gene also owned some acreage south of Arcadia where he found the time to relax and do a little hunting. He enjoyed hunting, especially ducks and deer, fishing, traveling and photography.
Gene married Romona "Mona" Thomas on June 27, 1964, at Saint Stanislaus Catholic Church in Arcadia. The couple was blessed with two children: Robert and Julie.
Gene is survived by his wife Mona of Arcadia; son, Robert (Dawn) Wachs of West St. Paul; daughter, Julie (John) Schmidt of Onalaska; grandchildren, Talyah, AJ, and Tori.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lorraine Wachs; and granddaughters, Faith Elizabeth and Sydney Hope Schmidt.
His kind-hearted nature and hard - working vitality will be missed by all who were fortunate to know him.
A funeral service for Gene will be held at 12 PM on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Wozney-Killian Funeral home with Father Kyle Laylan officiating. Family and friends are invited for visitation at the funeral home on Sunday, November 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and also 11 a.m. to noon Monday. There will be 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Sunday. Burial will be in Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Arcadia. To express condolences online, please visit www.wozneykillianfh.com.
1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
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Gene was born in Winona, Minnesota on March 8, 1935, to Elmer and Lisette (Koetz) Wachs. He graduated from Winona Senior High school in 1953. He received a BS in Business Education in 1957 and a Master's Degree in Business in 1965 From Winona State. After completing six months of active duty training in 1957 through the National Guard, he started his first teaching position at Melrose, Wisconsin. In 1964, he married Romona Thomas of Arcadia. Gene and Mona then taught at Antigo High School before moving to Eau Claire where he taught business education subjects at North High School from 1966 until his retirement from teaching in 1990. Since 1990, Gene taught classes periodically for the Western Technical College.
As Executive Secretary, Gene coordinated the NWEA-Northwestern Wisconsin Education Association from 1974 until 2000. Under his guidance, the NWEA (teacher's convention) grew to several thousand attendees, 220 workshops, and 300 exhibitor tables. He was heavily involved in obtaining nationally known celebrities.
Gene owned several rental properties in Eau Claire and was elected president of the Eau Claire Apartment Association. He also was on the board and elected president of Mega Foods in Eau Claire. As a side hobby, he was a wedding photographer.
Gene also owned some acreage south of Arcadia where he found the time to relax and do a little hunting. He enjoyed hunting, especially ducks and deer, fishing, traveling and photography.
Gene married Romona "Mona" Thomas on June 27, 1964, at Saint Stanislaus Catholic Church in Arcadia. The couple was blessed with two children: Robert and Julie.
Gene is survived by his wife Mona of Arcadia; son, Robert (Dawn) Wachs of West St. Paul; daughter, Julie (John) Schmidt of Onalaska; grandchildren, Talyah, AJ, and Tori.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lorraine Wachs; and granddaughters, Faith Elizabeth and Sydney Hope Schmidt.
His kind-hearted nature and hard - working vitality will be missed by all who were fortunate to know him.
A funeral service for Gene will be held at 12 PM on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Wozney-Killian Funeral home with Father Kyle Laylan officiating. Family and friends are invited for visitation at the funeral home on Sunday, November 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and also 11 a.m. to noon Monday. There will be 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Sunday. Burial will be in Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Arcadia. To express condolences online, please visit www.wozneykillianfh.com.
Visitation
NOV 18. 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)
Wozney-Killian Funeral Home1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
Other
NOV 18. 6:30 PM - 6:45 PM (CST)
Wozney-Killian Funeral Home1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
Funeral Service
NOV 19. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (CST)
Wozney-Killian Funeral Home1378 East Wilson Avenue
Arcadia, WI 54612
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