Memorials › Donald Allen “Doc” Pavel
Donald Allen “Doc” Pavel
11 Nov 1929 – 31 Oct 2021
| Birth | 11 Nov 1929 |
| Death | 31 Oct 2021 |
| Added by | ThunderBulldog on 27 Apr 2024 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/269796080 |
Bio
Donald Allen Pavel Birmingham, AL - Don was born November 11, 1929 to Fern Grass Pavel and Gerald Pavel in Coffeyville, Kansas. Don died October 31, 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama after a long series of illnesses. Don was the oldest of three boys. The family moved to Burlington, Colorado where he spent his growing up years. During these years he gained the lifetime nickname "Doc". On the first school bus of his young life, the bus driver saw that he was carrying a satchel with his lunch in it. The bus driver said, "Well, hello Doc", and the name stuck. Doc played high school sports at Burlington High School, on teams that won many state championships and became well known as a small Colorado high school powerhouse. He was a multisport letterman and it led him to play football at Colorado A&M. He was on several winning football teams for the Aggies in 1948-1950. Doc was the first in his family to graduate from college. During his time at Colorado A&M, he met Frances Alice Ray. Their 22 years of marriage began on March 17, 1952 in Raton, New Mexico. They had three children. He worked several ranch hand jobs while trying to finish college; simultaneously building, by hand, a house for his growing family. He finished both college and the house! In the following years, Don worked for a number of agricultural businesses. He particularly enjoyed working for First National Bank as their manager of the Ag Loan department. It was during this time he met many businessmen, farmers and ranchers in northern Colorado. He was involved in many community builder activities including the Long Range Planning Commission. He was most proud of the work he did there helping to grow Fort Collins and Larimer County at a time when tremendous growth was on the horizon. He started several companies including title companies and business parks in Fort Collins. He was also one of the first cattlemen in the area to import Limousin cattle, a French breed yet to be introduced into the United States at the time. He moved around quite a bit starting in 1975 and landed in Birmingham, Alabama where he met Jane Peifer. They were married March 21,1997 where he lived with Jane until his death. He enjoyed many gardening and woodworking projects and was a member of the Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. He became a huge Alabama football fan and proudly flew the "Roll Tide" flag every Saturday during football season. Don is survived by three children: Julie Johnson Haffner (Gene) of Windsor, CO, Karen Kreiner (Fred) of Loveland, CO and Greg Pavel (Lela Kergan) of Decatur, Illinois. He is also survived by a brother, David Pavel of Boulder, CO. Another brother, Duane, is deceased. Don has six grandchildren; Lindsay Johnson Miller (Mark Obert), Carrie Johnson Kern (Roland), Kelley Johnson, Daniel Zitting (Shannon Hoesing), Shannon Zitting Guzman (Jorge Guzman) and Madison Pavel. He also has four great grandchildren; Harper Miller, Alan John Kern, Ainsley Kern and Dray Zitting. During his time in Alabama, Don very much enjoyed Jane's family which includes children Greg Bishop (Donna), Matt Bishop (Gaines) and Lynn Parsons (Roger) and grandchildren Amanda Parsons, Madeline Bishop, Kate Bishop, Olivia Bishop and Chloe Bishop. Memorial Gifts made be made in Don's memory to the Briarwood Mercy Ministry, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 2200 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 Attention: Accounting, Memorial honoring Don Pavel. Posted online on November 29, 2021 Published in The Coloradoan
Photos
Family
Parents
Spouse
Children
Export GEDCOM
This person only · Entire connected family