VERY REVEREND EUGENE H. WOJCIK, V.F., 76, of Chester, Illinois, formerly of Fairview Heights, Illinois, passed away 9:06 am, Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Bethesda Dilworth Nursing Home, St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born to the late Frank C. and Mary C. (nee Skrabacz) Wojcik on November 14, 1947 in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Father Gene attended grade school at St. Albert the Great in Fairview Heights, Illinois. He then attended high school at Little Rock Catholic High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Father attended St. John Vianney and the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota for his undergraduate and the Catholic Seminary of Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Louis University for his graduate degrees. He was ordained on January 5, 1974 by Most Reverend Albert R. Zuroweste.
In his career he had served as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Assumption in Fairview Heights, as a Principal for Assumption High School in East St. Louis, and as a Pastor for Holy Rosary in Fairmont City, St. Bruno in Pinckneyville, Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, St. Patrick in Tipton, and Mary Help of Christians in Chester.
Father Gene had been the President of the Belleville Presbyteral Council. He had served on the Belleville Catholic Social Service Board, Belleville Diocesan School Board, Belleville Diocesan Finance Council, and the Board of Directors St. Joseph Seminary at Loyola University Chicago.
Survivors: two brothers: Frank C (Judy) Wojcik and Gerold T. (Jeanne) Wojcik; a niece: Natalie Wojcik; two great nephews: August T. Merculief and Xavier T. Merculief and a great niece: Aliyah S. Merculief
He was preceded in death by: his parents and a brother: Robert W. Wojcik.
Reception of Cremains: Friday at 4 p.m., Very Reverend Dennis Schaefer presiding. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois. Officiating: The Most Reverend Michael G. McGovern Bishop of Belleville, Reverend Matthew Elie and Reverend Sebastian Ukoh.
Inurnment will be held at a later date at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, Illinois
Memorials: Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois