Obit: Pawlak, Loren Christopher (1950 - 2016)

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

Surnames: Pawlak, Shock, Wayne, Elchert, Graham, Dietrich

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 1/20/2016

Pawlak, Loren Christopher (19 December 1950 - 6 January 2016)

Loren C. Pawlak of Dewey, AZ, previously of Lake Holcombe, WI, passed away following a long and courageous battle against ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her husband, Don; daughter, Kimberly; and granddaughter, Isla.

Loren Christopher Wayne was born December 19, 1950, to Albert and Lorraine (Shock) Wayne; they preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her mother-and father-in-law, Benjamin and Frances Pawlak.

Loren is survived by her loving and caring husband, Don Pawlak; and her two children: Craig of Asheville, NC, and Kim (husband Bryan) Elchert of Asheville, NC. She has two grandchildren: Tucker Pawlak of Thorp, WI, and Isla Elchert of Asheville, NC. She is also survived by her sister, Hollis Wayne and husband Beau Graham, of Cedar Creek, TX; her brother, Collin Wayne and wife Katy, of Cincinnati, OH; her sister-in-law, Nancy (Pawlak) Dietrich and husband Matt Dietrich; her nieces: Marissa Dietrich and Hannah Wayne; and her nephews: Dustin Dietrich and Maxwell Wayne.

Loren attended and graduated from Stanley High School in 1968. It was during high school that Loren met Don in the summer of 1966 at the North Fork Park on Hwy X between Thorp and Stanley. She then attended college at the Ringling Brothers School of Art in Sarasota, FL, and Don enlisted in the Marines. They remained in contact with each other; they both returned to Thorp and married on March 24, 1973. Two wonderful children were born, and raised in Thorp. After the two children grew up and left the home, Don and Loren built their dream home on Lake Holcombe, which they enjoyed for many years. Don and Loren later semi-retired and moved to the Nevada and Arizona area.

Loren was a very creative person, and could do most anything she put her mind to. She was well-known for her upholstery business, which she had for many years. Loren also worked at the Thorpedo Restaurant, Mapleton Wood Products, and she was an avid and talented homemaker.

A memorial and celebration of her life will be held in Thorp, WI at Cindy’s Banquet Hall on May 26, 2016. She will be buried by her extended family at the St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Parish Quonset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to her family at 14520 E. Meadow Ranch Place, Dewey, AZ 86327-6777. A park bench will be purchased and place in one of the Thorp’s city parks in her memory.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to those of you who visited and thought of Loren during her illness. She loved you all so much and her heart was full of the fondest memories made together. She felt blessed to have met so many wonderful people in her life and was always kind to all she met. Her smile will be missed!!

A poem from her sister, Hollis:

Loren Christopher

What can be said
When a sweet sister departs
Leaving us all with a
Hole in our hearts?

Can we be brave
And steadfast and true,
Laughing & loving, not
Downcast & blue?

Took her some time
To leave us alone
Without her sly smile
And tales about home

She could not tarry
And is gone too soon
Over the rainbow
And ridin’ the moon

Left us with stories
And memories galore
She knew she was needed
And always gave more

We’ll miss her and kiss her
In all of our dreams
Brave until the end
The heart of the team

Loren our sister
By marriage or birth
Sweet every day & full of mirth
Our wife and our pal
Our mother our friend
Loren our sister
The BEST ‘til the end

RIP Loren Christopher Wayne Pawlak
December 19, 1950 ‘til January 6, 2016