Dean W. Pashak Obituary
Dean Pashak passed away peacefully with his wife and family by his side Saturday evening, April 25th. He was predeceased by his parents George and Elsie (Wieland) Pashak, his brother George "Joe" and wife Kay Pashak, sister Myrna and husband Carl Stelen, brother Aaron Pashak, and son-in-law Bill Bateson.
He is survived by his wife Connie (Rylance) Pashak, his children Tamara & Regan Wieland, Tracy & Curtis Mowry, Lori Bateson, Sharell Foco, Deanna Hennessey, grandchildren Tianna& William Dart, Hailey Wieland, Grace Mowry, Mason Mowry, Mallory & Killian Frisch, BeauBateson, William & TiLany Bateson, Lacy & Brandon Bosacker, Britnee & Ryan Pettipas, Kayla & Aaron Boxey, Austin Foco, Cole Hennessy, Colleen Hennessy, and 13 greatgrandchildren.
Dean was born in Bay City, Michigan, on August 24, 1940. He attended Handy High School, Saginaw Valley Carpentry Apprentice school, married Connie Rylance on September 10, 1960, and was a life-long member of the Bay City Apostolic Christian Church.
Dean Pashak was a builder. Over the course of his career he built numerous gigantic steel buildings all across the country, and many beautiful houses, play houses, decks, and anything else anyone needed built, remodeled, or improved. He was known for insisting on the utmost quality, and if Dean built it, you knew it was excellent.
Dean was also a grower. His gardens were legendary, typically producing around 12 times more food than his family could possibly use. He donated the excess to various food pantries, and was widely suspected of being behind the frequent piles of vegetables mysteriously appearing on friends and neighbor's front steps throughout the summer.
But by far the most important thing Dean ever built was a legacy. He was a man of deep and unwavering faith in his God, a man who loved his wife and family with all of his heart, and a man who freely gave of his time, expertise and finances to any and all who were in need. He was dedicated to hurricane relief work, fell in love with the people of Haiti and spent a great many months of his life supervising the construction of churches and schools there, and faithfully financially supported the orphans and needy of that poor country.
Despite dealing with various health issues later in life, Dean was a man of unfailing good humor, never complained, and continued to enjoy his old black & white Westerns even after he could no longer see them. He was always quick with a joke or quip ("Wish I'd thought of that!") and never failed to express his love for his family at every opportunity. No grandchild – or great grandchild – ever left his side without being told that he "loved them to pieces, meeces!" and that they were "the bestest kids in all the world!".
Dean's memory will forever serve all of us who knew and loved him as an example of faith, an enduring testament of God's love, and a standard we all will strive to live up to.
The family wishes to thank the staL of Woodhaven Retirement Community for the love and care they showed Dean while he was a resident there. Jennifer, Jodi, Carol and Alana from Heart to Heart Hospice were God's love extended to Dean and his family, and were a genuine blessing during his final days. Finally, Dean's family wishes to extend their appreciation to all who have so graciously expressed their sympathy and love, and would ask that any memorials be made in his name to the Bay City Woodhaven Retirement Community or Apostolic Christian Church Harvest Call.
Visitation will be from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, May 1, at Rivertown Funeral Home, 209 S Huron Rd., Kawkawlin, MI, 48631. Funeral services will begin with visitation at 10:00 am, with service at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 2, at the Apostolic Christian Church, 2791 Fraser Rd., Kawkawlin, MI, 48631. Interment will take place in the church cemetery.
