Obituary of Eugene William Bulka

Eugene William Bulka 1928-2019 Eugene William Bulka, age 90, passed away from brain cancer while his loving wife, Nancy Bulka, was at his side; on May 27, 2019 in their Westland, MI home. He was born July 20, 1928 in Detroit, MI to William and Sophia (Nadwodny) Bulka. He was a 1946 graduate of Mackenzie High School in Detroit. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1946 to 1948. He received a Masters of Education degree from Wayne State University in 1959 and taught the physically handicapped for the Detroit Board of Education for over 40 years. Eugene married Betty J. Tripodi in 1951 and they raised 3 sons Douglas, David and Kenneth in Berkley, MI. He was an avid barbershop singer and participated in SPEBSQSA, now the Barbershop Harmony Society, for over 60 years. He sang in several quartets, most recently the Silverdomes, and many choruses. His quartet, the Close Chorders, went to the international competition in the 1960s. He was an advocate for the deaf, being fluent in American Sign Language and ran a deaf ministry at his church right up to the end. He made sure his family traveled, taking several summer, cross-country road trips and purchased a log cabin in northern Michigan where they spent the summers. Devoted to God, his family, friends and his church, Eugene was a Christian that loved the Lord Jesus Christ. We are confident through scripture and his profession of faith that he is in Heaven through the mercy of Jesus Christ his Lord. He was predeceased by his first wife Betty (1988), his parents and sister Irene (Bulka) Lenard. He is survived by his beloved second wife of 14 years Nancy (Rigsby) Bulka; 3 sons Douglas (Laura Ann), David (Kathy) and Kenneth; grandchildren Kathryn Compton (Elmo), Laura Zito (Mike) and Owen Bulka; great grandchildren Zoey, Cinco (Elmo V) and Emma; 5 step children; 15 step grand children; sister Regina Winkler and brother Edward Gall. Memorial Service: June 8, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Visitation 12:00pm Memorial Service Parkview Baptist Church 9355 Stark Road Livonia, MI 48150 (734) 261-6180 Memorial Donations: In Memory of Eugene W. Bulka, to support the PDP General Acquisitions Fund Detroit Institute of Arts Development Office 5200 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202-4008 and/or Give Kids the World