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Obituary for Robert James Pavlin

Robert James  Pavlin
Robert James Pavlin
February 2, 1926 ~ August 4, 2013
Bob Pavlin of Battlement Mesa passed away at the early age of 87 on August 4th at the Colorado State Veterans Home in Rifle from possible complications of a hernia surgery.
Bob was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and the family eventually moved to the Chicago area where he resided until 2004. He then moved to Battlement Mesa where he and his wife Barbara lived happily the remainder of his days.
Bob served his country in two wars, World War II and Korea. He was a private pilot, exceptional bowler, avid golfer and a loyal Indiana Hoosier fan. He lived life to it's fullest and enjoyed every moment life offered. Having lived a wonderful life, he will be dearly missed by all of us.
Bob is survived by his wife Barbara; two daughters, Sandra and Cheryl; a son, Steven; brother Jerome, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Geoffrey.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St.Mary's church in Rifle Colorado.
The family would also appreciate any memories or stories that you care to share about Bob by emailing them to dawndist@hughes.net
For those of you that knew Bob, thank you for being a part of his life and making his final years a very happy ending. If your a golfer, please think of Bob when you play the 16th hole at Battlement Mesa as he will be there in spirit and possibly help with a putt or two.

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Life Story for Robert James Pavlin

Bob was born on February 2, 1926 to Mary and Andrew Pavlin in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Due to his father's photography job, the family moved all over the Midwest. Finally settling in Milwaukee at the age of seven. After the Milwaukee Journal folded, his father was offered a job at the Chicago Tribune, so the family moved to Berwyn, Illinois in 1938. Worrying about the quality of the school system in Berwyn, the family moved several years later to Riverside, Illinois where they lived for quite some time. Having graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School, Bob was accepted at The Citidel Academy in South Carolina. Upon completion of his freshman year he was immediately drafted into World War 2, where he served in the Army. After being discharged from the Army, Bob enrolled at Indiana University to complete his education where he got a degree in journalism. Again, after graduation, he was drafted into the Korean Conflict, where he landed in Japan as an Army reporter. Honorably discharged again, he came back to Riverside and found employment at Rubin Donnelly Company in advertisement. Bob met his first wife, Louise during this time, resided in Riverside, and had four children; Cheryl, Stephen, Sandra and Geoffrey. During this time Bob owned and operated the Riverside Bowling Lanes where he became quite the bowler, carrying a 240 average and boasting 300 games. Seeing new opportunities ahead, Bob sold the bowling alley and bought a very successful manufacturing company specializing in brass and chrome elector plating of decorative objects. During this period, Bob became a private pilot owning a twin engine plane and flying across the country and became quite the avid golfer, shooting his age more than 48 times and can also claim three hole in ones. Bob became a member at the butter field country club in Oak Brook, Illinois where he taught all his children to play the game. It was here he meet his current wife, Barbara Gordon Pavlin, a financial adviser at Prudential Bache. They built a home in Burr Ridge, Illinois where the resided until 2005 when they moved to Battlement Mesa, Colorado to happily live the remainder of his days.
Bob and Barbara love to travel and especially enjoyed vacationing at Hilton head Island, South Carolina where they owned property and were members of the Colleton River Golf Club. Those of you who knew Bob realize what a phenomenal man he really was! No question, Bob's greatest love outside his family was Indiana University and it's sports. A close second comes golf, the game he loved and played daily until a week before his death. In fact, Bob played phenomenally in his final golf game on July 27th, tying for third place in the Italian Shuffle Golf Tournament at the Battlement Mesa Gold Club. This reminds me of a fond memory my sister would like to share with you, about Bob, it goes like this; As a young girl, I always admired my father as a golfer. He loved the game and so do I. I thank him for introducing all of his children to golf. Every year dad played, in the same golf tournament and every year I would go watch. I think I got more nervous than he did. I lived and died over every shot he made. The tournament started with 18 players and every hole the men with the highest score was eliminated until there was only one man left. Dad won this tournament many times, but the memory that sticks out most in my head is the one year he lost, I sat down on the green and cried!
I considered that period in my life as a great bonding time between father and daughter and I will always cherish that memory. Much like my sister, we all have cherished memories of Bob. If you would enjoy sharing yours with us, please email your memories and pictures to www.riflefuneralhome.com where they can be viewed by anyone.
Bob found religion again in his later life, and it comforts us all to know he is now playing great golf in far better place! Think of him often, especially on the 16th hole as he will be there in spirit!
Our entire family thanks you for your love and support. Rest in peace Robert, you will be dearly missed.

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