Herman Eugene Czapansky

Funeral service for Herman "Gene" Czapansky will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at the New Hope Church of God. Pastor Mark Tincher will officiate. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Air Force will follow at Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, July 19, 2011 from 1-8 p.m and family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.

Herman Eugene Czapansky passed away Monday, July 18, 2011 at St. John Hospital in Tulsa at the age of 82.

The son of Chester and Dora Barwick Czapansky was born October 3, 1928 in Pond Creek, Oklahoma. He was raised in Grant county, and attended a rural country school, Rich Valley. As he became old enough he began working during harvest. Over the next several years he helped his family and other area residents work their farms. Then in the late 1940's he joined the United States Air Force. He served during the Korean War. Upon his discharge he returned home to Pond Creek and began helping his dad do electric work in Grant County. It was during that time he met Barbara Lucille Simmons while she was working at the Paramount Cafe in Ponca City. They were married May 12, 1954. They made their home in Pond Creek for several years before moving to Carmen Oklahoma. Gene had taken a job there as utility superintendent. In December of 1968 he and his family moved to Chelsea. There he began working for the Chelsea utility company. After PSO purchased Chelsea Utility company, he began working for the City of Claremore. He retired in 1994 after ten years of service there. Gene remained active in Chelsea, serving with the fire department for over 22 years, active in the American Legion, VFW and the Lion's club. Most days in his spare time Gene could be found swapping information at one of his local visiting grounds. However spending time with his family was always his priority.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Dora, brothers, Virgil and Ray Czapansky; sister, Ruth White and granddaughter, Mandy Clark.

Survivors include his wife Barbara of the home; sons, Darrell McKinney and wife Claudie of Yale, Doyle Czapansky and wife Tami of Coweta, Dennis Czapansky and wife Candi of Claremore, Timothy Czapansky and wife Lynne of Broken Arrow, Les Czapansky and Dee of Tulsa, and Chuck Czapansky and wife Stephanie of Claremore; daughters, Liz Cresswell of Broken Arrow, and Nalene Clark and husband Mike Avery of Inola; sisters, Vonna Tewalt of Spokane, Washington, Lola Hunt of Lamont, Illene Jergens of Delta Junction, Alaska, and Nella Schneeberger of Lamont, 30 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson.