Christopher “Chris” W. Serio

Christopher W. Serio, 43, of Cape Coral, formerly of Rice Lake, WI, passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2014 in Cape Coral. He was born June 6, 1971 in Hayward, WI.

Chris graduated from Winter High School in 1989. In 1992, he graduated DeVry Technical College with a Telecommunication’s degree. After college he got a job with UPS. Within a year he moved to Rockford, IL and was instrumental in developing the network for the airport in Rockford. In 1995 he then moved to Jacksonville to live closer to his brother Tony and started working for CBNP. Two years later he found work overseas working with a team of network engineers re networking the country of Saudi Arabia. While there, he was able to visit countries such as Germany and Holland. In returning back to the United States after finishing his contract he decided to spend time volunteering through programs such as: Kinship, Boys and Girls Club, Rachel’s Door, Rice Lake Library, volunteering for the Republican Party, Rice Lake Investment Club, Spooner Investment Club and Habitat for Humanity. Of those that he volunteered in, these are the ones he actually founded: Boys and Girls Club and the Rice Lake Investment Club. During the time that he lived in Rice Lake he began mentoring Trapper Davis through the Kinship program. Chris mentored Trapper for 6 years and continued to keep in touch. In 2003, he decided to go back to work and found a job with the Rice Lake Library working as a Media Technician. A year later, with encouragement of colleagues and friends he decided to run for the Assembly of the 75th District. Unfortunately Chris lost the race but was fortunate to have had the experience running for assembly and gained many friends in the process. Back in the fall of 2002, he met the love of his life Patricia Davis. They dated for 31/2 years, engaged for a year and then married on August 19, 2006. In 2005 Chris decided to go back to school to Florida State University to get his MLIS (Masters of Library Information Systems) degree. Soon after, Chris and Patricia moved to Cape Coral, FL where Chris was able to get a job at Northwest Regional Library as a Youth Librarian. Chris and Patricia soon became members of the Cape Christian Fellowship. In July of 2008 Chris and Patricia bought their first house. They developed strong relationships within the church as well as their community in which they live. Shortly after the newlyweds were settled they were able to do a lot of traveling including trips to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Still they continued to mentor through their church and through Big Brother and Big Sister of Southwest Florida. After enjoying several years working with children as a Youth Librarian, in 2013 Chris decided to further his career and accepted a position at the Collier County Headquarters Library as a Reference Librarian.

He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia L. Serio of Cape Coral; mother, Krista Muellner of Loretta, WI; father, Walter Serio Sr. of Winter, WI; sister, Annette Kaptur (Tom) of Willow Springs, IL; two brothers, Walter A. Serio Jr. (Christina) of Baltimore, MD and Michael W. Serio of Hayward, WI; one niece, Kirby Kaptur of Ann Arbor, MI and Willow Springs, IL; one nephew Tommy Kaptur of Willow Springs, IL; as well as Popeye his Boston Terrier.

Memorial contributions in memory of Chris Serio can be made to either one of the following: Kinship of Rice Lake or Hope Hospice. A higher education scholarship fund for youth in Kinship has been set up with Kinship of Rice Lake and Cameron through the US Bank. Donations can be made payable to Kinship of Rice Lake with scholarship in the memo line. The donations can be mailed to Kinship of Rice Lake, PO Box 291, Rice Lake, WI 54868, www.ricelakekinship.com, or dropped off at any Rice Lake area US Bank; or Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Cir, Ft. Myers, FL 33908.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Cape Christian Fellowship, 2110 Chiquita Blvd, Cape Coral, 33991 with Pastor Joshua Yates and Chaplain Ed Coronato officiating. Another one is also being planned for 11:00 am on Saturday, September 27th at Red Cedar Community Church, 23 W Eau Claire St, Rice Lake, WI 54868.