On Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the age of 65, the owner of Midwest Thoroughbreds, Richard J. Papiese, passed away after a battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), according to the Elmwood Chapel & Crematory website.
The co-owner of Midwest Custom Case, Inc., a store fixture manufacturing company in Monee, Illinois, Papiese started Midwest Thoroughbreds with his wife Karen in 2003. Over the next 18 years across numerous tracks, the stable earned almost $53 million. In 2012, Midwest established a new single-season record which still stands with 542 wins.
Top horses included beloved Illinois-breds like The Pizza Man (English Channel), who brilliantly captured the 2015 GI Arlington Million, and Work All Week (City Zip), the 19-1 longshot winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in 2014. Both were trained by the late Roger Brueggemann.
The Elwood post says, “It is comforting to think of him in a place of peace, surrounded by joy, and reunited with others who have passed. We are sure Rich would want everyone to remember the magic and miracles he brought into everyone's life, even as you mourn.”
MSA is a rare and progressive neurological disorder whose symptoms can be similar to Parkinson's disease.
Papiese is survived by his wife, Karen (nee Garbarczyk), and his cousin and devoted care giver Justin Shimkus; children: Jeanine (Dan) Zajeski, Frank (Andrea) Opiola, and Alan (Jenn) Opiola; grandchildren: Tayler, Katelyn, Mason, Skylar, Gianna, Noelle, Julia, Josh, Eddie, and Emma; siblings: Cathy (Paul) Levy, Debbie (Bob) Cruz, Sue (Willie) Gutierrez, Lara (Shaun) Fricke, Bill Papiese, the late Paul Papiese, and Mona (Scott) Davis; in laws: Mary Ellen (Gary) Rassel and John (Jackie) Garbarczyk, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are as follows: Visitation, Thursday, Dec. 12 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. CT., Elmwood Funeral Chapel, 11300 W. 97th Ln., St. John, IN 46373. Funeral Services, Friday, Dec. 13, St. John the Evangelist Church, 10701 Olcott Ave., St. John, IN 46373 with a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Old Friends, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, or your local police, fire and ambulance services.
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