Wayne Joseph Spakowitz

Wayne Spakowitz passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the age of 87. He was born October 8, 1938, the son of Joseph and Mildred (Liss) Spakowitz. He grew up in rural Green Bay, graduating from Pulaski High School in the spring of 1956.

The following year he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Patricia Ann Szczepanski.

From early on Wayne was a hard worker, juggling many tasks at once.  He worked at the Green Bay Box Company (which later became Green Bay Packaging) while serving in the Army National Guard of Wisconsin. At the same time, using the skills he learned from his father, he built a beautiful home in the country – A home that lasted a lifetime.

And as it turns out, it was a home to more than just his family…

Wayne and Pat had a son, Brad in 1959, and a year later welcomed a daughter, Cheryl. Just several years later the couple started caring for foster children, more than 170 over the course of nearly three decades!

Despite all of this home activity, Wayne introduced his family to the great outdoors and took everyone along for countless camping trips across Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada. Some of the best times were at family favorites: Boulder Lake, Ada Lake, and time in Three Lakes.

Wayne was also an avid small game and deer hunter, and had an impressive collection of antlers to prove his conquests. He was also a die-hard fisherman, never giving up just because "they weren't biting"… Because he always knew of another nearby lake to try – even if it took all day. He had a number of plaques and trophies for many of his catches.

But Wayne always said the greatest catch of his life, was his wife Pat. The two were a couple who were inseparable and theirs was a match made in heaven. They did almost everything together, and that included Pat's struggles with Alzheimer's. For years Wayne so loving cared for her, anguishing the day he had to resign her care to a facility, as the thought of her not in the house with him was heartbreaking.

He was at her side always, until the day she died in 2019. And in some ways that was also the day he died inside, of a broken heart. His life was forever changed.

Still, he remained tough while battling his own declining health until the very end.

Dad, we will forever cherish and celebrate your many days as a model husband, a fantastic father, and a very good friend. You were a very good man and will forever be missed dearly.

The family wishes to thank neighborhood pals Terry, Tom, Harvey, Jan and so many others for the frequent visits, the shared hunting and fishing stories, and occasional tasty treats. And of course, a special thanks to John for helping with lawn and snow chores.

By Wayne's request there will be no funeral, but you can visit him and his beloved wife Pat at St. Edwards & Isadore Parish Cemetery. They lie on the hill, the marker with the inscription "Together Forever."

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife and eternal soulmate Patrica (Szczepanski), sister Geraldine "Gerry" (Spakowitz) Kjell, his parents, and grandparents.

He is survived by his son Brad Spakowitz, daughter Cheryl (Spakowitz) Zastrow, foster son Frank Jones, three grandchildren: Kelsey, Taylor and Sierra, and great grandson Cayden.