Donald Joseph Pekarek

About

Orosi High School

Donald Pekarek Obituary

Don Pekarek was born on November 10, 1920, to Joseph and Rose Pekarek in Rock Creek, Mn. He passed away in Fresno on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at the age of 86. Don attended a one room school until he moved to Kingsburg in 1934 where he completed elementary and high school. He attended Reedley Junior College and then College of the Pacific in Stockton. His education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Marine Air Corps in 1943. After three years in the military, Don earned his bachelor's degree from Fresno State College and later his administrative credential. His 33 years in education encompassed a series of assignments including teaching Veterans Agriculture at Orosi High School, teaching at Cutler Elementary School, teach-ing and coaching in Dinuba at Washington Junior High School and Jefferson Elementary School and 12 years as principal at Jefferson. Don was a loving husband, father and grand-father. As a father he instilled in his children a sense of responsibility and genuiness, but most im-portantly, a strong relation-ship with the Lord. He is survived by Margaret, his wife of 65 years; daughter and son-in-law, Cathleen and Bill Chambers of Madera; son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Johanne Pekarek of Stockton; grandchildren, Greg and Pam Chambers, Scott and Connie Cham-bers of Madera, Kendra and Ed Zaragoza, and Tim Pekarek and Barbara Klinger of Stockton; and great-grandchildren Aaron, Dustin, Jonathan, Heather and Joshua. A Celebration of Life will be held at San Joaquin Gardens on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. Remembrances may be made to San Joaquin Gar-dens Endowment Fund, 5555 North Fresno Street, Fresno, Ca. 93710 or to donor's favorite charity.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Fresno Bee on Oct. 17, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Pekarek

2 Entries

Mark O'Bar

November 16, 2007

In talking to my Jefferson school classmates since learning of Mr. Pekarek’s death, one thing is clear: It’s hard to put into words what he meant to us. The respect we have for him, the esteem in which he is held, the flood of wonderful memories that come to mind upon remembering that eventful year—all are truly remarkable.
I’m glad that I once had the privilege many years later of telling him he was born to teach 6th grade, which I always imagined would be the toughest of any age to teach. He did it with such a rare combination of love and genuine affection for his students mixed with a discipline that instilled both fear and respect. For all the talk of his “holey paddle”—the Board of Education with holes drilled in it to decrease the air resistance and increase the wallop—he rarely had to use it. Just the sight of it hanging there was deterrent enough in most cases.
He also had the knack for breaking down complex, multi-faceted issues in a way an 11 or 12-year-old could understand. Puzzled by hearing of our alliance with the Russians in WWII, yet growing up with the tension of the Cold War, I once asked him in class, “Are the Russians our friends?”
Leaning over his desk, his chin resting on the back of his hand with his pinkie covering his lip in that classic pose we came to know so well, he paused a thoughtful moment and said, “Well, yeah….but not the kind of friend you’d turn your back on.” Got it.
He had a unique way of keeping us focused on math and science and social studies and health while still allowing us to express ourselves, acknowledging and understanding that we were beginning to morph from children to adolescents. He had many years of teaching under his belt by the time we came along, yet he never grew too seasoned to appreciate a good laugh or cherish a special moment.
Through the years, many of my classmates have commented about how much they enjoyed music class with him. I had virtually no musical talent, yet somehow I looked forward to our sessions in the cafeteria where we often combined with Mrs. Freeman’s 6th grade class. Even now, these many years later, I sometimes find myself singing one of those old songs from that music book.
Mr. Pekarek was self-effacing to a fault. I read in his obituary he served with the Marine Corps during WWII. He never talked about his service in the War, but I wish he had. It was only earlier this year I learned he was inducted into the Reedley College Athletic Hall of Fame as a baseball player from 1940-42. He never regaled us with his exploits on the diamond, but I wish he had. He did tell us about the memorable day when he (or someone in his family), as a young boy, discovered the body of a man in the frozen snow of their farm in Minnesota.
Just two years ago, one of my classmates told me Mr. Pekarek would come in early so she and another girl could practice reading to him and try to catch up to the rest of the class in that vital area. I never knew it then but I’m not surprised by it now. That’s just the kind of man he was. I remember hearing my older brother, David, comment on what an outstanding teacher he was, which made me hope I would also be lucky enough to be assigned to his classroom. When I was in the 4th grade, he stopped by our classroom briefly one day. After he left, Mrs. Bergthold said, “Don’s a good man.” She was right.
Because of such comments, I had high expectations when it came my turn to learn under his tutelage. I wasn’t disappointed.

Mark O’Bar
Jefferson School, Class of ‘68

Don Brown

October 24, 2007

This fine man was my 6th grade teacher in 1968. I considered him my friend and mentor. He had a profound positive effect on my life.

To say that I will miss him is not as appropriate as to say I have missed him for 40 years.

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results