John J. Pawlak, 76, WWII US Army Veteran

He was born July 23, 1928 in Lorain and had been a lifelong area resident.

Mr. Pawlak graduated from Lorain High School and then served in the US Army during WWII. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands for 1 � years and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. He attended Bowling Green State University for two years.

John worked as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service in Lorain and worked part-time for Goodman Beverage in Lorain. Prior to that, he worked at US Steel in the metallurgical department.

As a letter carrier Mr. Pawlak was featured in a Lorain Journal Article in 1963 in which a dog named ‘’Hobo’’ walked with him during his entire route.

He played softball for Fatty’s Sports fast pitch softball and helped his team capture the 1952 State Championship. He was a member of the 1943 Lorain High School football team that was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lorain and was an avid Notre Dame Football fan.

Mr. Pawlak is survived by his sons: Donald Pawlak of Austin, Texas, Matthew Radea of Amherst and Michael Gatchell of Birmingham, Alabama; daughters: Amelia Pawlak of Redondo Beach, California, and Joan Vrbanac of Amherst; brother: Daniel Pawlak of Lorain; sisters: Rosella Paysor of Grafton and Florence Kilmer of Grandview, Missouri; two grandchildren: Julie Vietta of Meza, Arizona; and David Gatchell of Birmingham; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife: Caroline Pawlak (nee Brletic) in 1979; second wife: Doris Gatchell-Pawlak (nee Hillyer) in 2001; father: John Pawlak in 1929; mother: Rose Pawlak (nee Matuszak) in 1984; and sisters: Jeanette Smolka and Bernell Kovach in 2004.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., in Lorain where funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 11:30 a.m. at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 1454 Lexington Ave., in Lorain. The Rev. Kevin Shemuga, pastor of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and the Rev. Robert Dybo, deacon of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church will concelebrate.

Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where the Disabled American Veterans Louis Paul Proy Chapter #20 will conduct military honors.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Christopher Zorich Foundation, 47 W. Polk St., Suite 100-286, Chicago, Illinois 60605.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.