A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

EDWIN D. AND CHRISTINA [GUENTHER] PAVLIK

Edwin Daniel Pavlik, known to all as “Slim,” was a life-long resident of Verdigre, born at Armstrong July 14, 1900, to Frank J. Pavlik and Emma (Mudra) Pavlik. After his father’s death in 1908, he moved to town with his mother and brother Frank.

[pg 359 PHOTO The Edwin and Christina Pavlik family - from left: Leatrice [Pavlik] Vakoc, Daniel J., mother Christina, father Edwin D. “Slim”, Edwin S. “Buddy,” Dr. Kenneth, and Keith.]

Slim attended Stoney Butte country school and the Verdigre school where he learned the English language. At age 17, he set out on his own with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge which would lead him to acquire many skills.

He worked on his cousin’s farm in Stanton County for a short time. Then he returned home and began working for J. J. Chalupnik at the creamery. This employment and friendship lasted 48 years until Slim’s retirement in 1965.

During these event-filled years, he was instrumental in the construction and maintenance of the light and power plant, the artificial ice manufacturing facility, adding and manufacturing new equipment which continuously updated the creamery in which they made butter and ice cream and bottled milk. He installed many of the cold storage areas in the building. In addition, Slim was also responsible for the many additions to the building which housed all of these improvements.

As an employee of Mr. Chalupnik, Slim saw everything from the cutting of ice on the Verdigre Creek to store in buildings for summer’s use to making ice artificially as needed and storing it in a small room where it was kept frozen by mechanical equipment. He saw the community go from candles and kerosene lanterns into the Electrical Age and the eventual sale of the power lines to the R.E.A. Slim was known as “The Meter Man” for many, many years, and had enjoyed his monthly visits with the local citizens, now and then a cup of coffee and a kolach, and a chance to rest a bit and chat.

Slim’s interests and talents were many, the major ones being electricity and refrigeration. In his leisure hours, he enjoyed working with flowers; a hobby which led to a small greenhouse which he built behind his house. Later he and his eldest son constructed a larger greenhouse and began raising flowers and plants commercially. He remained active in this second occupation until 1966 when they sold their business.

His retirement years were enjoyed working with his youngest son in the printing business. This opportunity came along shortly after his retirement and provided Slim with a chance to learn something he had never been associated with before - the type of challenge he always sought and one he thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of his life.

On April 17, 1923, Slim married Christina Guenther, daughter of William and Anna (Koeman) Guenther of Creighton. In 1928 they became home owners and were members of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Slim was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Workman, and served many years with the Verdigre Fire Department. Christina was a member of the Catholic Ladies Guild and Catholic Daughters and shared Slim’s love for flowers and assisted with the greenhouse duties. She liked sewing and crocheting and learned to make all the Czech dishes the family loved to eat.

Slim lost his wife on April 9, 1972, a heartbreak he never fully recovered from. It was about this time he found out he was suffering from an upper respiratory problem which continued to tap his body of strength and ambition for the goal was to have made a violin for each of his five children, one of the very few goals he left incomplete. He died on February 2, 1982, at the age of 81.

They had five children: Leatrice (Mrs. Russell Vakoc), Edwin S. (Buddy), Kenneth, Keith, and Dan. (See separate histories.)

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