DANBURY, Conn. – Edward Nicholas Botka, 83, of Ridgefield, Conn., died Dec. 14, 2007 in Danbury, Conn.

He was born Sept. 17, 1924, in Livermore, son of the late Andro and Annie Botka. He was a graduate of Livermore Falls High School, Gorham State Teacher’s College and held a master of education degree from the University of Maine.

He was a World War II veteran and served in Europe from 1942 to 1945. He taught industrial arts for more than 40 years at Sanford High School, Darien (Conn.) High School and Middlesex Middle School. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking and carpentry.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pauline (Patten) Botka; three children, Christine A. Barden and her husband, Thomas, of Wayne, Eric W. Botka and his wife, Mayumi, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and Edith Patten-Orville, her husband, Christopher, and their children, Benjamin, Heather and Autumn of Parrish, Fla.; two brothers, John Botka of Auburn, Wash., and Andrew Botka of East Hartford, Conn.; three sisters, Anne France of Portland, Conn., Arlene Hallman of Springfield, S.C., and Catherine Cook and her husband, Cleon, of Livermore; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by brothers, Julian, Leslie, G. Henry and William; and sister, Helen.