NORWICH – Jason D. Papke, 35, was called home by the Lord on Jan. 20, 2008.
Born in Towanda, Pa., in December of 1972, Jason was the son of Gordon “Bud” and Victoria F. (Jankowsky) Papke. When Jason was 5, he moved with his parents to Norwich, where he attended the Perry Browne and Norwich High Schools, graduating with the Class of 1991. He furthered his education by attending Finger Lakes Community College for two years, and studied for two years at Oneonta State College, from which he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in the Graphic Arts and Illustration. In 2001, he moved to Raleigh, N.C., where he established and operated his own business, the Ink Unlimited Advertising Company, for 2-3 years before he relocated to Syracuse to work for Aspen Dental. Just recently, Jason had accepted a position as Creative Director in Marketing with Pharma International of Syracuse.
During both his high school and college years, he had enjoyed playing the position of goalie on the school’s soccer teams, and he was President of his high school class. But Jason’s passion was art. His extraordinary talent in the arts expressed itself as early as his high school years and carried him through his career years, taking him from coast to coast and back again, and seeing him as a published artist by the time he was 30. Gifted in more than one medium, Jason could tackle any project and the result would be a lovely work of art.
Jason is survived by his parents, Gordon “Bud” and Victoria Papke of Norwich; his brother, Keith Papke and wife Jessica of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; his maternal grandmother, Stella Jankowsky of Dushore, Pa.; a nephew, Mason Papke; and by several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Gordon and Helen Papke and his maternal grandfather, Frank Jankowsky.
A celebration of Jason’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the New Beginnings Church in Norwich. The Rev. James McLaughlin, Pastor, will officiate. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Jason’s family has requested that, instead of sending flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Jason Papke Memorial Scholarship, c/o Wendy Wright, Norwich City School District, 17 Baton Ave., Norwich, NY 13815.