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William C. Papke
Born December 6, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois, William C. Papke is the fourth son of seven children from Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Papke Jr. (Frank and Leah), his loving parents.
His e...view moreBorn December 6, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois, William C. Papke is the fourth son of seven children from Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Papke Jr. (Frank and Leah), his loving parents.
His early education began at Welsh Elementary School and then West View Elementary School. He moved on to Kennedy Middle School and then to West High School. During his senior year he attended Rockford Vocational School to learn a trade. He graduated in the Class of 1977.
He began his first woodworking project in Cub Scouts with a pine wood derby car. The Boy Scouts also taught him the love of the great outdoors.
During his senior year of high school, he worked after school for Home Lumber and Supply Company and upon graduating spent the next 9 and half years working for Home Lumber and Rockton Lumber Companies.
After that he went to work for a small cabinet and woodworking company, making TV carts, microwave carts, etc.
Then in 1988, utilizing all he had learned, he took a job at the local community college as a maintenance carpenter and grounds person. He devoted 28.5 years to his career before being let go from his job; something about downsizing.
Just a couple of years before being let go he met and married his loving wife, Yanmei Li.
Semi-retired he continues greeting customers 2 hours a day at Culvers. He says Its a great place to work.
A Rockford, IL resident his entire life, he has always worked to make his community a better place to live. For years he volunteered for paint-a-thons, pancake days, and building Project Playworks II.
He also helped restore the Shirland Congregational Church in Shirland, IL, attending the Saturday service.
In his spare time he created poetry, art, sculptures, and helped build a few snow sculptures at the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition.
His body now worn and near broken, he still enjoys creating his art. Though difficult to understand by many, he enjoys creating it.view less