Armin Toni Pavlovic

HOLMEN - Armin Toni Pavlovic passed away in his sleep at home on March 25, 2023, in Holmen, Wis., at the age of 87.  

Armin, of Czech and German descent, was born on Nov. 15, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., to Anton Pavlovic and Edna Martens Pavlovic. He grew up in Davenport, Iowa. When he was a boy, he helped take care of his sister, Donna, and his mother, Edna, while his dad served in World War II. When Armin was eight years old, he began delivering newspapers. In junior high, he worked at a repair shop fixing small appliances. In high school, he worked at a grocery store.

At age 16, Armin met the love of his life, Judith Ann Wagner, at Zion Lutheran Church. Their first date was a Luther League bowling outing on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 1952.

When he was 15, Armin bought a Cord for $200 and began restoring it. By the time he graduated from high school, he had completed the chassis, engine, and drive unit and primed the body. When Professor Cole from Northwestern University visited Armin’s high school, Armin explained his career goal to become an engineer and told the professor about the Cord restoration project. Professor Cole (a car guy himself) encouraged Armin to apply for a scholarship. Armin and his friend, Lee Schneider, both received full-tuition, life-changing scholarships to study mechanical engineering at Northwestern University. Armin became the first person from his family to attend and graduate from college, changing the trajectory of many people’s lives. To pay room and board, Armin worked part-time jobs and then worked for International Harvester and Bendix Corporation through the university’s engineering co-op program. Judie also attended Northwestern University, and Armin and Judie got engaged in 1956.  

When Armin was a senior in college, Professor Ed Obert hired him to work part-time in his auto testing business. Armin wrote the arcles for Science and Mechanics Magazine and eventually performed the testing. When Professor Obert moved to the University of Wisconsin, Armin took over the business and his father, Tony, worked with him, which they both enjoyed immensely. After graduating, Armin worked on a project with the U.S. Air Force Aeromed Lab in Fairbanks, Alaska, while Judie finished college.

Armin and Judie were married in Davenport, Iowa on Sept. 14, 1957. Their daughter, Barbara, was born in Evanston, Ill., and their daughter, Jennifer, was born in Davenport, Iowa.

After college, Armin continued working for Bendix Corporation (a NASA contractor) in Davenport, Iowa, where he designed the accelerometer and rate of descent indicator for the Gemini spacecraft, the rate of descent indicator for the Apollo spacecraft, and the thrust-to-weight ratio indicator for the Lunar Excursion Module.  

In 1965, the family moved to Wisconsin, where Armin began graduate school and a full-time teaching job at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During this time, his father, Tony, was diagnosed with brain cancer and then lung cancer and emphysema. Armin helped care for his father and eventually moved him to the Veteran’s hospital in Madison, where he passed away at age 57 in 1966. This experience influenced Armin to quit smoking for good. Armin’s wife, Judie, then also courageously battled cancer, and we were blessed to have her with us for another 53 years.

At the University, Armin met electrical engineering Professor Andy Frank, who became a lifelong friend after stopping one day to look at Armin’s Model T project parked in the driveway. Armin’s and Andy’s families lived just blocks apart on the west side of Madison and spent a lot of time together. Andy, an early inventor of electric vehicles, rode his flywheel bike over to the Pavs’ house, and Armin and Andy enjoyed fixing up Corvairs. The two families enjoyed dinners at the Imperial Garden Chinese restaurant and canoeing on the Wisconsin River, and even took a long road trip to California together, with "the insane seven" four adults, three kids, and a dog packed into one station wagon. Over the years, the Franks and Pavlovics took many trips together.  

Armin’s daughters remember staying up late for the moon landing on July 20, 1969. At the time, Armin said that he wished his father could be there to see it, because his father always believed we would land on the moon. Fifty years later while watching a documentary about the moon landing, Armin pointed out “his” instruments, finally impressing upon his daughter Jenn that his work on the Apollo rate of descent indicator and the Lunar Excursion Module thrust-to-weight ratio indicator enabled the astronauts to land safely on the moon and take off again, without crashing or getting stranded. Previously Jenn had not fully understood the monumental importance of this work that Armin completed before he turned 30.

Jenn also has very fond memories of her father bringing home a Shetland pony for her in his blue Ford Econoline van, letting the kids keep the homeless puppy, ‘Fuzzer,’ they found on the front porch, building an outdoor safe house for an orphaned squirrel, finding and hauling giant rocks to build Judie’s rock garden, and bringing home a huge aluminum Grumman canoe so the family could paddle on weekends.

Armin completed his graduate coursework and worked on noise control in induction motors, passing qualifying and preliminary grad school exams. He then went to work for A.H. Easton and Associates, a Madison, Wis., automotive accident reconstruction firm founded by Professor Arch Easton. When Professor Easton retired, Armin bought his shares in the business, acquiring 30% ownership. Armin thrived in this business, which was renamed Safety Engineering Associates (SEA), and found his niche in the areas of heavy truck accidents and fires involving propane. He mentored younger engineers, including his daughter, Jenn, who worked with him while she was in mechanical engineering school. Armin was known for his ability to take a case all the way through trial if needed, and for always telling the truth as an expert witness. Armin spent the remainder of his fascinating career with SEA.

In 1975, after Judie and daughter, Jenn, set their eyes on an 18-acre hobby farm near Stoughton, Wis., the family moved there, where they had horses and dogs. “The farm”, which had views of both sunrises and sunsets, hosted many gatherings with extended family and friends, including swimming parties and picnic lunches served on the perfect porch. Armin and Judie lived there for almost 46 years and appreciated the many times extraordinary neighbor Dick Norin was there to help.

For the last 25 years of his career at SEA, Armin was grateful for engineering assistance from Ernie Blackburn, who became a very good friend and helped Armin build an addition onto the Stoughton house, including the perfect porch. Ernie’s wife, Debbie, also a good friend, worked with Judie on raptor rehabilitation.

In 2001, Armin sold his share of SEA to partner, Kris Kubly, then continued to work part-time for another 10 years. In retirement, Armin and Judie spent winters in Bonita Springs, Fla., and summers in Wisconsin, closer to family.  

Through hard work, integrity, and determination, Armin improved the quality of his family’s and extended family’s lives. Coming from a humble background, he almost seemed surprised by his own prosperity. We are touched by the many stories of how he generously helped people without fanfare and with great love. He was truly devoted to his family and friends.

Judie and Armin were sweethearts for over 71 years and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 14, 2022. In the last years of his life, Armin worked very hard to fight cancer and outlive Judie, who had dementia, so he could help care for her at home and she would not have to be without him. Judie passed away at home on Feb. 21, 2023, with Armin and their daughters by her side.

Armin passed away on March 25, 2023. He is survived by his 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. Armin is also survived by his sister, Donna (Gene) Nelson and her children, Jane (Mike) Kane, Ann (Todd Landauer) Malmgren, and Tony (Julie) Metzger, plus additional nieces and nephews. Armin was preceded in death by his wife, Judie; his parents; and his nephew, Joseph Metzger. He was followed in death by one of his favorite dogs, Herbie the Lovebug.

A celebration of life for Armin and Judie Pavlovic will be held in Middleton, Wis., on Sept. 15, 2023. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/judiearmin. Having grown up in the hometown of jazz musician, Bix Beiderbecke, Armin said that he wanted a jazz funeral. He hoped that by the end of his life, he would be able to celebrate a life well lived. We remember Armin and Judie 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 Armin's and Judie's quietly magnificent lives touched us and give them the fanfare they never sought, but most certainly deserve.