John Joseph Pavlick, (84), of Saint Paul, Minnesota, known as Jack or John Sr., suffered a heart attack and passed away suddenly on May 27, 2023.

John was born on February 21, 1939, in Minneapolis and spent the first three years of his life in an orphanage before being adopted and welcomed into the home of John and Eleanor Pavlick of St. Paul. They provided him with love, stability, and discipline and introduced him to his Christian faith, which he wholeheartedly embraced. He was a devoted Catholic throughout his life.

He attended St. James Catholic grade school, Monroe High School, and the University of Minnesota, where he met his wife, Judith. The couple married in 1963 and would go on to raise six children. John had many jobs throughout his life but was proudest of the titles of husband, father, and grandpa. He was devoted to Judith for nearly sixty years and always made time for his kids and grandkids, offering his instruction, advice, or support. A teacher at heart, he was generous with his time and loved to share his experiences and wisdom with all his family and friends.

John was curious, and his inquisitiveness, ingenuity, and determination drove all his pursuits. Never afraid of an uphill battle, John’s tireless work ethic and belief in himself made him a natural entrepreneur. In his professional life, he experienced his fair share of success and failure but never let either weigh him down or prevent him from trying something new. He was always looking to what was next, energized by his creativity and motivated by a constant need to improve himself. He was never afraid to take a risk. Throughout his career, his businesses, including Ol' Mexico Restaurant (30+ years), which  provided jobs to hundreds of people, and if you, your son or daughter, a friend, or a family member needed a job, John would go out of his way to hire and help you in any way he could.

John was never one to sit still and loved physical activity. As a young man, he excelled at hockey, using his small size to his advantage and never allowing anyone to intimidate him. Later in life, John developed a love for downhill skiing and traveled to resorts across the globe to tackle some of the most challenging slopes. He enjoyed playing tennis with his wife and could often be seen taking long walks along Summit Avenue, throughout Crocus Hill, or at the Mall of America. He loved Minnesota sports teams, and his heart was broken when the North Stars moved to Dallas, but his love of the Minnesota Wild was immediate.

John is survived by his wife, Judith, and their five children, John, Francis (Joan), Gregory, Christopher (Mark), and their only daughter, Mary. He is also survived by his sister, Julie, and his eleven grandchildren, Emily, Alison, Molly, Tyler, Joe, Katie, Mark, Jack, Ryan, Logan, Krista, great grandchild Lila and his twenty-four nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Eleanor, and his youngest son, Mark.

John’s family will host a funeral service on Saturday, June 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption in St Paul. Visitation will occur at the church beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service and burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.

Contributions in memory of John can be made to the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services Foundation at 1011 Osborne Road NE, Spring Lake Park, Minnesota 55432.