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Orville Pawelk Obituary – 10/2/2017


Orville A. Pawelk age 87 of New Germany passed away on Monday October 2, 2017 at the Legacy of Delano. Orville was able to celebrate his 88th birthday in heaven with his wife, Bonny, whom he missed very much.

Funeral Service Sunday October 8, 2017 2:00 P.M. at St. John Lutheran Church in Hollywood Twp., New Germany with Rev. Dean Mahlum officiating. Visitation Saturday October 7, 2017 4-8 P.M. and 1 hour prior to the service ALL at St. John Lutheran Church. Prayer service Saturday evening at 7:30P.M. Interment in the church cemetery.

Orville Arthur Pawelk was born on October 6, 1929 the son of Fred and Elsie (Mielke) Pawelk in Franklin Township of Wright County. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark Lutheran Church in New Germany. On June 8, 1949 Orville was united in marriage to Bonny Matter at the Methodist Church in Delano. Dad was a long time member of St. John Lutheran Church of Hollywood. He loved his church where he served on the council, enjoyed Men’s Club, and even gave a few sermons!

Dad was a born and raised farmer. In 1962, Dad and Mom purchased their dairy farm in Hollywood township. Dad liked to say “A good man never runs out of work”. It was evident that he lived by this motto as he took pride in having a well-kept farm and producing grade “A” milk. The high milk production may have been due to the music playing in the background, whether it was Dad and David yodeling while milking the cows, polka or waltz music on the radio or listening to WCCO’s Boone and Erickson at 6:00 AM singing the “Good Morning” song.

Together our parents worked hard on the farm where Dad enjoyed working up the fields with his John Deere tractor, milking cows, raising pigs, chickens and most importantly, 10 kids! Dad was a man who did not like to waste time. If one of us was outside helping him and he asked us to get something he needed, he often said, “Run! Don’t walk”! So we ran! Dad was frequently asked about all of his kids. “How did you do it?” He replied, “I talked to God and said, God, You gave me all of these kids, now help me take care of them.” And God did.

Dad was a man ahead of his time, and just as Mom helped with outside work, he helped with inside work. Dad would help clean up in the kitchen after a long day of harvesting crops, milking cows and feeding workers. Family visits were often a weekend tradition. When it was time to leave he would get everybody bundled up and then have to wait patiently with the hot and sweaty crew while Mom continued with her typical lengthy good-byes! And Dad loved babies! They always put a smile on his face. He loved rocking his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He made up his own “Byo, byo” lullaby which has been passed down to the next generations.

When farm life brought struggles and lean times, Dad put his trust in God. Farm life also brought laughter, good times and wonderful memories of simpler ways of life. A regular Sunday routine was getting all dressed up, packing all of us in the Chevy Nova and going to church. Then we’d come home and have Dad’s favorite lunch- SALMON SANDWICHES. Many times after lunch he would lay down on the floor to take a snooze and say “Whose turn it is?” Then we knew it was time for one of us to comb and curl his thick, wavy, black hair.

He could turn work into fun by giving us rides in the wheel barrel, wagon, and bucket of the John Deere. Using the Farmall tractor to give toboggan rides and listening to him playing his accordion was also great family fun! He was famous for playfully teasing his kids and grandkids by giving out nicknames such as Oscar, George, Pebbles, Slow Poke, and Ski Foot, just to name a few.

Dad’s “hobbies” were work, going to his kids’ and grandkids’ events, drinking Folgers instant coffee, work, eating sweets, helping his family, work, sneaking to town for coffee(don’t tell Mom!), grandkids, work, and COFFEE AND EATING SWEETS.

Dad was a dedicated, long-suffering Viking fan and he enjoyed watching the games with his family. His typical response if the opponent scored first was,” It’s over.” This always got a rise out of those watching it with him.

Dad was always prepared to talk about his faith in Jesus. At family gatherings with his voice cracking and, in his last years, with someone helping him stand, he gave heartfelt speeches and prayers proclaiming God’s love for all, his love for his wife and his gratitude for his family. However, in all of the seriousness, he never failed to make us laugh- even to the very end.

When it was time to sell the cows in May 1990, Dad, who was 60 years old, embarked on a new career. The very next day after selling the cows, he started his job at Mackenthun’s in Waconia, where he worked for 19 years. He did his job with pride and enjoyed visiting with people as he bagged their groceries.

Dad will always be known for his strong faith, quiet Christian leadership, gentle spirit, hard work ethic, ability to tell a good joke, playful teasing, his twinkling blue eyes, and being a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was an example of how to trust God and how to grow old with humility and grace. He left behind a beautiful, lasting legacy.

The last years were difficult for Dad and he sometimes wondered why he was still here on earth. We believe God was still using him to touch people’s lives in ways only known to God. On October 2, 2017, Jesus welcomed him home and said to him “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Have a cup of coffee and a donut, Dad. We love you!

Orville was preceded in death by his wife Bonny Pawelk; parents Fred and Elsie Pawelk; son-in-law Wayne Coburn; sister Friedola Pawelk, brothers and sisters-in-law Willard and Bernice Pawelk, Glennard Pawelk, DeLloyd and Elaine Pawelk, Kenneth and Germaine Pawelk; brother-in-law Wayne Sievert; father-in-law and mother-in-law Clarence and Goldie Matter; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Dorothy and Peter Jamma, Pamela Zins, Germain “Bud” Boll, Ben Domjahn, George Hermann, Jimmy Boll, Clarence “Buzz” Matter Jr.

Orville is survived by his loving family; children Peggy Coburn of Andover, Nancy (Keith) Hokenson of Watertown, Dave Pawelk of Delano, Bradley (Debbie) Pawelk of New Germany, Mary (Mike) Robbin of Delano, Linda (Tom) Schmidt of New Germany, Renee (Steve) Parochka of Mayer, Chris (Tony) Bartlett of Ham Lake, Heidi (Rob) Seidenkranz of Monticello, Angie Wandersee (special friend Clint Berge) of Lester Prairie, Jason Wandersee of Mayer; grandchildren Jenny and Jeff Ehnstrom, Chad and Whitney Coburn, Brandon “BJ” and Beth Coburn, Megan and Andy Basham, Brock Hokenson, Wade and Amanda Hokenson, Brady and Melissa Hokenson, Jered and Holly Hokenson, Crystal Pawelk, Chasity and Dave Mathis, Joshua Pawelk, Jesse and Karilyn Pawelk, Ryan and Bria Pawelk, Adam Pawelk, Jason and Amy Pawelk, Michael Pawelk, Matthew Pawelk and special friend Samantha, Jeff and Stephanie Hissam, Eric and Katie Hissam, Holly and Luther Workman, Heather and Ryan Reed, Amy and Emmanuel Foster, Robert and Kelsey Schmidt, Jonathan and Michelle Schmidt, Tyler and Chanel Schmidt, Andy and Laura Parochka, Laura and Matthew Burns, Timothy Parochka, Lindsay Bartlett, Allison Bartlett, Nicholas Bartlett, Erica Seidenkranz and fiancée Jackson, Amber Seidenkranz and special friend Cody, Jacob Wandersee and special friend Holly, Chelsea Wandersee and special friend Cody, Austin Wandersee, Isaac Wandersee; great-grandchildren Nathan Ehnstrom and fiance Anna, Taylor, Allison and Zachary Ehnstrom, Ryker Coburn, Cora and Riley Coburn, Mackenzie and Addison Basham, Harper, Jack, Haley and Jay Hokenson, Sloane and Mitchell Hokenson, Henry and Arthur Hokenson, Presley Pawelk, Jackson and Leo Pawelk, Isabella, Sydney and Cameron Mathis, Peyton Pawelk, Aubrie and Jackson Pawelk, Alicia, Brandon, Emilie, Hunter and Addison Hissam, Tatum and Jaidyn Workman, Odacia and Caijior Foster, Cora Reed, Lydia and Ruby Schmidt, Naarah, Maia and Naomi Schmidt, Eli Parochka, Noach and Gavin Swenson, Ava, Ella, Addilyn and Joseph Burns; brothers and sisters-in-law Eldor and Joan Pawelk of Maple Lake, Eldon and Barb Pawelk of Montrose; sister Priscilla Sievert of Mankato; sisters-in-law Adeline Pawelk of Hutchinson, Marion Boll of Watertown, Vivian Hermann of Watertown, Betty Boll of Waconia, Virginia Matter of Delano; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Casket Bearers are Chad Coburn, Wade Hokenson, Crystal Pawelk, Adam Pawelk, Eric Hissam, Robert Schmidt, Timothy Parochka, Allison Bartlett, Erica Seidenkranz, Chelsea Wandersee.

Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia. www.johnsonfh.com.

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