David J. Pawlak

David J. Pawlak

Passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, age 88 years. Loving father to Joy (Daniel) Schultz, David (Ellen Vaillancourt) Pawlak, and Sherry (James Lehmann) Polasek. Dear grandfather of Danny (Oana) Schultz, Sarah (Linn) Chao, and Natalie (Keith) Lipka. Great-grandfather of Alanna, Lia, and Kendel. Further survived by nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his siblings Joseph Pawlak, Dolores Klumpp, and Ronald Pawlak.

David loved the Drum and Bugle Corps activity. He followed his son and daughters who were members of the Crusader/Gladiators from St. Francis. He would drive bus or equipment truck and help with equipment repairs. After his retirement from Allen-Bradly/Rockwell, he joined the Racine Kilties all-age corps where members named him "Pops." He helped in many ways by filling open positions in the hornline drill. He even learned how to play a horn and would blow a few notes. He filled positions in the color guard and would also march in the America section. He helped drive the equipment truck and made sure instruments arrived. His biggest joy was uniform accessory manager maintaining the stock of a dozen uniform parts. "Pops" made sure every member was properly dressed from head to toe with tam, sash, gloves, gullets, belt and ammo pouch, broach, sporran, socks, garters, and spats, just to name a few parts. On August 1, 2015, the Racine Kilties inducted David "Pops" as a life time member and he became a member in the "Hall of Fame". He cherished this and will carry that status to his next stage in life joining the dozens of other life time members.

David loved duck and deer hunting in the fall. Within his hunting group, his radio handle was Billy Goat. At some point he hated eating cold sandwiches, so one year he started a fire and placed his tripod grill over the fire to make burgers, hotdogs, brats, Italian sausage, chili, and coffee. It became a hit with his hunting group. The following years, they helped plan the menu and made him a sign that said "Road Kill Café." Other hunters would drive-by and look at the sign and some would stop. He would offer them hot food. Billy Goat made many new friends who would stop-by each year to chat and exchange stories and eat a hot sandwich.

In 2014, David lost both legs for health reasons. On Thanksgiving Day, 2014, he went to Lasata's short-term Rehab facility. That is where he met Patty, his rehabilitation therapist and "Angel." Since this was their first ever amputee, they all learned together because he was determined to be independent and move to Lasata's Assisted Living. After six months of hard work, he was able to move into his own assistant living apartment. He never wanted any help or assistance and was determined to live a normal life. He participated in plays, entertained the residents with singing, was Prom King, played lots of bingo (over $300 in winnings) and loved going on outings to stores. Nothing stopped him.

He lived almost 11 years at Lasata, and made lots of friends with both staff and residents. When ever a resident needed help, he was there for them. He was also very inventive and always made or bought gadgets to remain independent.

Everyone will truly miss David. He was an inspiration to all with his humor, independence, and determination.

Memorial Visitation at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Memorial Service starting at 1:00 PM. Private inurnment at St. Adalbert Cemetery.