George J. Pawkovich

George J. Pawkovich, 95, formerly of Seybertown, died Tuesday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

Born April 4, 1921, in Chickasaw, Pa., he was the son of Joseph F. and Frances (Krampel) Pawkovich.

On Sept. 29, 1951, George married Irene S. Dermidzakis. She preceded him in death July 3, 1997.

George and Irene enjoyed traveling and took several cruises, cross-country trips, vacations to Hawaii and trips to California to see the redwood forests. After his retirement, George and his close friend and co-worker from U.S. Steel, Marty Sassie, made a cross-country road trip together.

For 30 years, George worked at U.S. Steel, and after his retirement, he opened several laundromats in the Armstrong and Clarion county areas, including George's Coin-Op in East Brady.

A World War II U.S. Army veteran, George served as a corporal with the Army Air Force 125th Base Unit. He was a recipient of the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Every Tuesday morning, George met with Jud Sedwick, Dick Laube and Pete Snecki for breakfast. George cherished those friendships and good times. He was an avid Notre Dame, Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan, and he also enjoyed listening to country music. A member of St. Eusebius Roman Catholic Church, George was a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus.

In 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said to an audience in Montgomery, Ala., that “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?”” For George, entrepreneurship and philanthropy in Clarion and Armstrong counties is what he loved the most. He always said he loved doing things for others and for the community in which he lived.

George donated a 7-foot cross in St. Mary's Cemetery in honor of his family and his late wife, and he had a military tank displayed in honor of the veterans near the American Legion Post 488 in Bradys Bend. George built Little League baseball fields in East Brady and Worthington and installed scoreboards and lights for evening games. Every holiday season, he bought turkeys for the senior citizens at the High Rise in East Brady and purchased the Christmas decorations for the town to spread cheer along Kelly's Way.

George was a good friend to the Buffalo Bill's hall of fame quarterback Jim Kelly. He placed several billboards around East Brady welcoming travelers to the quarterback's hometown. In 1997, George's charity earned him title of “Citizen of the Year” during East Brady's annual Riverfest celebration.

George and Irene never had children, but George had a favorite niece, Dorothy Smith of Lady Lake, Fla., who he was especially close with. He also is survived by his great-niece, Suzanne Hoffman of Hermitage; his great-niece, Connie Cogley, and her family of Seybertown; his nephew, Douglas Sowers of Ford City; his godson, John Romanko Jr. of Mercer; and his close friends, Harry “Bake” and Jane Wagner of East Brady, who helped George with his laundromat business. He also is survived by many other nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.

The last of the nine Pawkovich children, George was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary, Rose, John, Joe, the twins, Rocco and Annie, Tony and Nick; his parents; and his wife, Irene.

PAWKOVICH — Friends of George J. Pawkovich, who died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Buechele Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 707 Kelly's Way, East Brady.A parish prayer service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Eusebius Church with the Rev. William Kuba officiating.Committal services, military honors and burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Bradys Bend.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's name to St. Eusebius Church, 301 E. 2nd St., East Brady.To view or express condolences, please visit www.BuecheleFuneralHome.com.