Gordon "Gordy" John Pavek

Gordy had a full and adventurous life. At the age of 7, he lost his thumb and index finger digging a nail into a blasting cap trying to make a whistle out of the cap. His only concern was that he would be able to write in school. He worked as a lumberjack in Oregon with his older brother Ray; had a milk route working for the Beroun Creamery picking up canned milk from area farmers. He spent 3 years in Alaska in the mid 1950s working as a heavy equipment operator. That occupation stayed with him until he retired. He came home from Alaska when his older brother needed him to help run a construction business after the death of Ray's brother-in-law, Pete Osterdyk. In the late 70s, after selling Pavek Bros. Construction, he went to Montana and worked heavy equipment for Rehbein Construction. He finished his career with Shafer Construction as a blade operator in the Twin Cities.

 

He enjoyed summer and winter fishing, pheasant hunting in his younger days, and deer hunting into his seventies.

 

Gordon is survived by nieces Moni (LeRoy) Shatava, Deb Valvoda all of Pine City, Carol (Matt) Ruder of Cambridge; nephews Brian Pavek, Richard (Kim) Pavek all of Hinckley, Ronald (Jeanie) Pavek of Duluth; great-nieces and great-nephews.