Roger D. Patoka

Roger D. Patoka

Of Plover passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 19, 2017.

He is the son of the late Maynard & Romona (Wroblewski) Patoka. Roger was born August 31, 1959 in Stevens Point. He grew up in Plover across from the Springville Pond, which holds many childhood memories growing up with his siblings and neighborhood friends.

He graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High school in 1977. He attended the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and Mid State Technical College. He played baseball for UW-SP Pointers when he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round in the 1978 winter draft.

Roger married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Iwanski on February 16, 1980 at the Newman University Parish located at the Sister of St. Joseph Motherhouse Convent in Stevens Point. Roger grew up loving and playing baseball, often being coached by his dad in little league. He played high school sports and played for the American Legion Post 6 legion team for four years. He later was an assistant coach for a few years with the Plover Black Sox Legion.

His love of sports led him to coach his own sons when they played baseball. A lot of fun and wonderful memories and friendships were developed when he coached in the Plover Whiting Youth Athletics Little League. He also coached during the traveling little league season, going on to coach in the Babe Ruth League and also flag football. He had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, lawn work, hunting and fishing. His best memories were the annual deer hunting season with his Uncles and Cousins, and later with his two sons on the Patoka Family Farm.

Roger worked for Bob's Food King while in high school and college before he left to report to the Sarasota Farm club of the Kansas City Royals. When he returned he worked for Sentry Insurance in the Security Department, and later for Aramark Uniform Services as a Route Representative until his retirement in 2014.

Roger came into this world as a "record breaker". When he was born a picture of him and his mother was in the Stevens Point Journal announcing his birth. He was proud to proclaim that he weighed 13 lbs. 2oz. 23 inches long as he was the biggest baby born in Portage County according to the records of St. Michaels Hospital as of August of 1959.

His favorite times were gathering and visiting with family and friends. He enjoyed amusing us all with his stories, jokes and his special sense of humor.

Roger is survived by his wife Sharon, and their two sons; Kyle (Lori) of Green Bay, WI, and Kolin (special friend Chelsea Liesch) of Stevens Point.

He is further survived by his six siblings, Sandra (Michael ) Pavelski, Brian Patoka, Lori (Tim) Buchkowski all of Plover Carol (William) Rudiger of Amherst, WI, Kim (Robert) Lawrence of Minneapolis, MN, and Jodi (William) Renfrow of Stevens Point, along with many nieces and nephews.

His godchildren; April Filtz, Sheri (Pavelski) Zubella, Curtis Patoka, Matthew Lawrence and Jason Pliska. Further survived by his sister in law Sandra (Iwanski) Filtz and her children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maynard and Romona Patoka and his mother and father in law Gertrude and Alois (Lloyde) Iwanski.

In Lieu of flowers a memorial in Rogers name will be established at a later date.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. Monday, October 23, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Stevens Point. Rev. Thomas Lindner officiating. Burial will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday at the Pisarski Funeral Home in Stevens Point, and from 9:30 A.M. Monday morning at Holy Spirit Catholic Church until the time for mass. There will be a parish rosary at 7:00 P.M. Sunday evening at the funeral home. The Pisarski Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to Justin Hunter from the Village of Plover Police Department and
Joe Gemza and the Emergency Medical Paramedics who responded to our emergency.
A special "thank you" to Angela Rhode NP from Ascension St. Michaels who cared for Roger for the last several months.
Thank you to John Suchon, Frank and David Pisarski from Pisarski Funeral Home for
assisting us during this difficult time.