Judith Ann Pavlovic

HOLMEN - Judith Ann Wagner Pavlovic passed away at home on Feb. 21, 2023, in Holmen, Wis., at the age of 85. Her husband and daughters were by her side.

Judie, of German and Scottish descent, was born March 24, 1937, in Davenport, Iowa, to Karl H. Wagner and Edith (Cameron) Wagner. Judie was the youngest of five children and grew up in Davenport, Iowa. There at age 14, she met the love of her life, Armin Pavlovic, at Zion Lutheran Church. Their first date was a Luther League bowling outing on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 1952.

At age 15, Judie became one of the first carhops in Davenport, at Riefe’s Drive-In. While in high school, she also worked at Wagner's Printers, the family business. Judie participated in several high school clubs, sang in the chorus, worked on the school newspaper, made the honor roll, and was Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook during her senior year. Upon graduating from high school, Judie followed Armin to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., to earn her degree in education and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. In 1957, Armin and Judie were married in Davenport, Iowa. Their daughter, Barbara, was born in Evanston, Ill., and their daughter, Jennifer, was born in Davenport, Iowa.

Judie began her 30-year teaching career in Davenport, Iowa, then taught at Crestwood Elementary School and Randall Elementary School in Madison, Wis., for many years, followed by Martin Luther Christian Day School in Stoughton, Wis. Judie, an avid reader, taught countless children to read and made science fun by letting kids experience (for example) how plants grow and how a caterpillar morphs into a butterfly. She had a gift for engaging children and making every child feel important.  

Judie courageously battled cancer at age 32. We are grateful she survived to be with us for another 53 years.

During the summers, Judie tended a beautiful rock garden and became an avid birdwatcher. She taught her children and grandchildren the names of the flowers and birds and became adept at identifying birds by their songs. She also enjoyed summer canoe outings on the Wisconsin River with her family. She kept the extended family connected, inviting Iowa cousins up to visit, taking the kids swimming and strawberry picking.

Judie had a kind heart. She supported her daughter’s love of animals and taught responsibility by allowing her daughter to have and care for a pony and to adopt the homeless dog that appeared on the front porch. After Jenn and Judie set their eyes on an 18-acre hobby farm near Stoughton, Wis., in 1975, the family moved there, and another dog and horse joined the family. Judie planted hundreds of trees and had bluebird nesting boxes installed. The bluebirds learned to come for a mealworm supper when Judie rang a bell. Judie also nurtured orphaned baby squirrels and raccoons and injured raptors, successfully returning them to the wild.

After retiring from teaching, Judie enjoyed watching birds from her perfect porch. She volunteered for the Madison Arboretum, tended the bluebird boxes at Lake Kegonsa State Park, and in her 50s trekked through China to count cranes and teach crane conservation with a volunteer group from the International Crane Foundation.

After retiring, Judie and Armin spent the winters in Bonita Springs, Fla., near Judie’s brother, Karl, and his wife, Thelma, and the summers in Wisconsin. Judie had a trained singing voice and, over the course of her life, sang beautifully in Lutheran Church choirs in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Florida. She also enjoyed singing songs like, "You Are My Sunshine" with her family on car trips to visit relatives in Iowa.

Judie’s grandchildren remember the elaborate tea parties she laid out just for them, complete with a child-sized tea set and peanut M&Ms. She had a sweet tooth and never skipped dessert, but somehow managed to stay in good shape. Her grandchildren also remember learning to swim and spending countless hours swimming in their grandparents’ pool and enjoying family barbecues on the perfect porch.

Although Judie had memory loss in recent years, her sweet nature prevailed. She still knew her family (including Jenn's dog Herbie) and the words to her favorite songs. Just three days before she passed away, she correctly named all the Midwest birds shown on a DVD.  

Judie and Armin were sweethearts for over 71 years and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 14, 2022.

Judie was survived by her husband, Armin T. Pavlovic, who passed away on March 25, 2023. She is survived by her two daughters, Barbara (Tom) Wiedenbeck of Holmen, Wis., and Jennifer Pavlovic of Verona, Wis.; four grandchildren, Joy (James) Zahn, and Grace, Joshua (Kayla), and John (Kay) Wiedenbeck; and four great grandchildren, Helen and Nathaniel Zahn, and Isa and Zephyrine Wiedenbeck. Judie is also survived by her sister-in-law, Donna (Gene) Nelson; and several nieces and nephews. Judie was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; and four nieces. She was followed in death by one of her favorite dogs, Herbie the Lovebug.

A celebration of life for Judie and Armin Pavlovic will be held in Middleton, Wis., on Sept. 15, 2023. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/judiearmin. We remember Judie and Armin as loving, amazing people. We invite those who knew them to the Imperial Garden restaurant to share memories and join the second line parade, to celebrate how Judie's and Armin's quietly magnificent lives touched us and give them the fanfare they never sought, but most certainly deserve.

Memorial contributions in Judie Pavlovic’s name may be made to the National Audubon Society.