Gene A. Paschka, 71, of Roanoke, Indiana passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He was born November 15, 1954, in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the late Theodore and Marcella (Heine) Paschka. Gene was united in marriage to Joyce A. Hartman on August 14, 1982 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kokomo, Indiana.
Gene along with Joyce were members of St. John Lutheran Church- Bingen, and previously attended St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, both in Fort Wayne where he served as an usher and a deacon. Following their move to Roanoke, they became members at Faith Lutheran Church. An Eagle Scout, and Boy Scout, Gene remained active in service throughout his life as a member of the Canal Society of Indiana, where he served on the board.
Gene graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 1973. He attended trade school for plumbing and heating and then continued his education at Ivy Tech in Culinary Arts. He was employed by W.C. Borchelt as a heating and plumbing installer and also worked as an assistant chef at Goeglein’s Catering, the Fort Wayne Coliseum, and Ceruti’s, as well as a produce clerk at Kroger.
Gene loved his Lord and Savior, and found great joy spending time with his friends and family. Among the most cherished times he spent with his nephews and nieces, involved taking them to Chicago Cubs games and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. He was also a member of the Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club and enjoyed ice skating and synchronized skating. In his free time, Gene found great pleasure in gardening and tending to his flowers. Gene and his wife Joyce ushered for several years at the Embassy Theater.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Joyce A. Paschka of Roanoke, Indiana; mother-in-law, Opal Hartman of Kokomo, Indiana; Joyce’s sisters, Linda (John) Alley of Rochester, Indiana; Marge Bunn of Kokomo, Indiana; and Patti (Tom) Stout of Kokomo, Indiana along with 17 niece and nephews; and 44 great-nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Paschka.
A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen with Pastor Berett Steffen and Pastor Peter Brock officiating. Burial will follow in St. John Lutheran Cemetery- Bingen
Family and friends will be received 2 hours prior to the service on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen.
In lieu of flowers preferred memorials can be given to St. John Lutheran Church- Bingen, Worship Anew or Turnstone.
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