ABBOTSFORD -- They came from as far away as Paris, France.

Some were drawn with crayon, and others had elaborate covers and ribbons.

But each of the 511 birthday cards Gerry "Chief" Shilkey received was appreciated.

"This was a big surprise," said Shilkey. "I've read most of them."

Back in January, Shilkey's friend Sue Kann told the Wausau Daily Herald that the Abbotsford man confined to a nursing home was about to turn 80. But Shilkey has few surviving relatives and none in the area, so Kann was afraid his big day would be celebrated in silence.

So Kann and Shilkey asked if people could send a quick note or card to help him celebrate his Feb. 9 birthday.

They expected maybe a few dozen cards would come. Instead, more than 500 poured into his mailbox.

A Green Bay Packers fan, Shilkey said his two favorite cards came from Packer Mark Tauscher and from the Packers organization.

Shilkey, who lives at Golden Living Center-Continental Manor in Abbotsford, won't have space to display all of the cards, because of the Packers memorabilia that adorns every crevice of his room.

A true Green Bay fan -- he's been one for 67 years -- Shilkey received photos, an autograph, stickers and a team roster with his birthday card from Tauscher, whom he's been following since Tauscher's days playing for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Many of the birthday cards were sent by students from Tomahawk, Rhinelander, Mosinee and Abbotsford, who saw a Wausau Daily Herald story on Shilkey's love for the Packers.

The story inspired students at Wausau's Horace Mann Middle School to raise money and buy a Packers fleece blanket for Shilkey, said Pam Stuttgen, activities director at Golden Living Center.

But it's the sheer number of cards and where they originated that amazes Shilkey, who admits he is somewhat overwhelmed.

Shilkey received cards from Nevada, California, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina and Oklahoma, and as of Thursday, cards still were coming.

"I have a lot of reading material for my birthday," said Shilkey, who plans to send as many thank you notes as he can to the senders. "I do want to thank everyone who sent cards, especially the kids."

The number of cards he received surpasses the number he got for his 75th birthday, when he began his collection.

"I only got 160 cards," Shilkey said.

Which is why he has high expectations for his 90th birthday in 2020.

Shilkey might aim for 90 by then, said Stuttgen, but he'll probably receive 900.