William Hudacek

1961 - 2023

William Gerard "Bill" Hudacek

William Gerard "Bill" Hudacek, 61, of Republic, passed away Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Bill was born Dec. 17, 1961, to George and Joanne (Homolya) Hudacek.

Bill leaves behind three children, William D. of Portland, Oregon, and twins Rachel L. and Sarah N., both of Reynoldsburg; and siblings, Robert M. (Margaret), James E., and Laura L.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill was a complex person with a depth of feeling he would never admit. He loved watching sports, including old (and we mean old) re-broadcasts on ESPN if a new game wasn't on. He taught his daughter to love pickles as a young child while watching Cleveland baseball from the rocking chair. He loved movies, especially if they were old black and white. He saw every great movie ever made and some of the worst ones, too.

He was a troublemaker and never found a rule he couldn't break. He was smart and he knew it. He earned a Master's degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University even before everyone realized computers were the future. He traveled for a living and sacrificed precious moments of his children's lives to build them a future. Later in life, his work took him all across the country and to London, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

He could have slept through a tornado if he wasn't always out on the front porch watching the storm. He could always surprise you and when he really laughed, his eyes came alive. He could go outside in the dead of winter in shorts and a t-shirt and was sweating in any weather above 40 degrees. He was an incredible, thoughtful gift giver.

He was an avid reader and loved science fiction, classic literature, and history. He could be the most stubborn person you'd ever meet. He was converted to a cat lover later in life and had entire conversations with his two cats that you'd overhear from the other room.

His greatest accomplishment was earning the love of the most wonderful woman, Donna Hopple, who he shared life with for 31 years, and being the father of three children, who will miss his dearly. He told endless tales of his childhood and his youthful adventures. We hope he is reliving them now with his parents, with all the fried spam and chicken paprikash you can eat.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 2, 2023, at Calvary Cemetery, 555 No. Ridge Road W, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. A Celebration of Life luncheon will be at 12 p.m. Friday at German's Villa, 3330 Liberty Ave., Vermilion, Ohio, 44089.

For those unable to attend, please visit the funeral home's website to share a memory and sign the guest register at www.hempelfuneralhome.com.