Harry Timothy Pawelczyk, 65, passed from this life late Friday evening, April 12, 2013 at his residence on Scott’s Lake in Beverly surrounded by family. Harry fought a fourteen month battle with small cell lung cancer. Harry was born Monday, February 2, 1948 in Berwyn, IL, a son of the late Frank and Jean Pawelczyk. On March 8, 1969, he married the former Sandra Wolak of Cicero, IL., who survives in Beverly. They celebrated forty four years of marriage. Left to cherish Harry’s memory besides his wife are three children: Blair Pawelczyk and wife Christine of Elkins, Kyle Pawelczyk and wife Anna of Tallahassee, FL and Manda Pawelczyk currently of Beverly, one very special grandson: Lucas Pawelczyk, one brother: Richard Pawelczyk and wife Cheryl of Minnoka, IL, and two sisters: Mary Jean Horn and husband Ed of Wellington, FL and Lori Chennault and husband Gerald of Frisco, TX. Preceding Harry in death besides his parents was one brother: Thomas Powell of Wisconsin. Harry attended the schools of: St. Mary’s of Czestochowa in Cicero, IL, graduated from St. Mel High School in Chicago, IL, Morton Junior College in Cicero, IL, received a Bachelors of Science in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD in 1972. He was a veteran of the US Army serving in Missouri and Virginia from 1967-1969. Harry was employed as: a staff biologist for the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee, FL, and animal keeper in the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL, head grounds keeper at Sacred Heart Convent and Mother House in Lisle, IL. He spent the rest of his career working for the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. He was the district Fish and Wildlife Biologist on the Ottawa National Forest in Ontonagon, MI and the Daniel Boone National Forest in Morehead, KY where he led the effort to establish a free flying Giant Canada Goose population around Cave Run Lake. He was then promoted to a Forest Biologist on the Monongahela National Forest in Elkins. His last few years, were served as the Rangeland Program manager of the Monongahela National Forest. He retired from the US Forest Service in October of 2005. Harry was selected as the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year by the League of Kentucky Sportsman in 1982 and was also selected as a “Kentucky Colonel”. He was a member of the West Virginia Non-game Council under Governor Caperton. Harry belonged to the Mountaineer Chapter of the Izaac Walton League and The American Legion Post 29. Harry enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends, travel with his wife Sandee, photography, gardening and had a love for the Hungarian Vizsla breed of dog. Harry’s request for cremation will be honored with no funeral service or public visitation. Memorial contributions may be made in Harry’s memory to the Mountaineer Chapter of the Izaac Walton League P.O. Box 1891 Elkins, WV 26241.
