Obit: Pawlik, Joseph, Sr. (1922 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pawlik, Lyzak, Filipak, Plank, Halida, Hennemann, Paulson, Duellman, Weisenbeck, Koontz, Haider, Nitz, Hughes, Wojcik

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 3/13/2013

Pawlik, Joseph Sr. (11 June 1922 - 5 March 2013)

Joseph Pawlik, Sr., age 90, died on March 5, 2013, at the Gilman Care Center where he had been a resident for the past eighteen months. Joe was born on June 11, 1922, on his home farm in Gilman, WI to John and Anastasia (Lyzak) Pawlik.

On June 19, 1948, Joe was united in marriage to Florence (Filipak) at Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Lublin, WI. Joe and Florence raised three children, Joseph Jr. - “Joey” (1950), Darlene (1954) and Dorothy (1956), while operating and expanding the family dairy farm in Gilman. Joe loved his wife and family, and one of his favorite sayings, which was heard often was, “I married a moonshiner’s daughter, and I love her still!”

In 1978, Joe and Florence sold the family farm to their son and daughter-in-law, Joey and Sharon, and began 34 years of very active “retirement” during which he had time to pursue his many hobbies and interests, which included gardening, woodworking and 4-H projects with his grandchildren, fishing, deer hunting, butchering, soap making, and sausage making. Joe had an unwavering Orthodox Christian faith that served him well throughout his life. As he lived his life to the fullest, Joe touched the lives of many people with his quick wit and humor as well as his willingness to help others in need. He will truly be missed.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Florence; his brother, Stanley (Rosie) Pawlik; his two daughters: Darlene (Gary) Pawlik Plank of Stratford and Dorothy (Stanley) Halida of Lublin; seven grandchildren, who served as pallbearers, and 16 great-grandchildren: Jacqueline (Zach) Hennemann and their children, Isaac and Jacob; Carey (Mark) Pawlik Paulson and their children, Dylan and Kole; Jennifer (Jeramie) Duellman and their children, Tychelle, Troy, and Trevin; Jodi (Paul) Weisenbeck and their children, Karlie and Bailey; Cory (Sarah) Halida and their children, Logan, Lucas, and Bradley; Kristen (David) Koontz Haider and their daughter, Marley; and Karyn (Zack) Nitz and their children, Alaina, Ella, and Samuel. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law and her husband, Sharon (Richard) Hughes of Gilman. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anastasia Pawlik; seven siblings: Katie, Anna, Mike, John, Andrew and Steve; and his son, Joseph, Jr.

Services were held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Lublin with Fr. Ted Wojcik officiating. Burial followed in the parish cemetery.