Joseph R. Pavletich passed away on Jan. 26, 2025, in Montesano, Washington. He was born on July 8, 1941, to his parents, Anthony J. and Annabelle (Button) Pavletich. Joe attended St. Mary’s School from grades 1-8 where he and brother Gerald were also altar boys, then graduated from Weatherwax High School and Grays Harbor Community College. He married Beth A. Jensen on Sept. 17, 1962. They were married for 63 years. They had two children, Lynn Marie and Kenneth Brian.

Joe joined the Marine Reserve at the age of 17 and was an 8-year obligate. Looking back on his service, Joe said it was tough, but he actually enjoyed it. After various jobs, he followed his father-in-law to ITT Rayonier. After becoming a millwright where Joe earned the nickname “the hammer,” he later became a maintenance supervisor until the mill closed and he retired in 1993.

Joe loved golf, baseball, water sports, and his grandkids. In his youth, Joe was a player in the first Little League season in Aberdeen. When Joe and Beth’s kids were young, they frequently went on family camping trips, usually at Lake Chelan. This was the old-fashioned way: canvas tent, gas stove, and taking out the boat Joe had built. A few years later he and Beth bought a summer home on Lake Nahwatzel, which was the site of many family get-togethers for generations to come, especially on holidays. When the grandkids came along, he enjoyed all the soccer games, dance recitals, plays, volleyball, and flag football. Joe was one proud grandpa with the graduation of all his grandkids from university.

Joe and Beth met a wonderful group of friends with the Europe 81 Woodcutters. This was a group of fathers of the kids in the Aberdeen High School band who were cutting firewood to help their kids go to Europe. Since then, the Woodcutters went on four cruises and are still getting together! Mary Ann Halverson and Joe Thein also included Joe and Beth on many summer trips to see the plays in Leavenworth and for adventures along the Oregon Coast, including Lincoln City.

A real passion for Joe was cars. He had a car before he ever had a driver’s license. He owned many interesting cars through the years including a 1971 Triumph TR6 and a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr V12 that he restored. Later in life, he wanted a classic car he could enjoy and take to shows. After a deal fell through to purchase a restored 1934 Ford Victoria he previously owned as a teenager, he found a beautiful 1934 Ford Tudor built locally by Leo Nixon. That car opened a whole new life for Joe. Every summer had to be scheduled around the car show calendar. When he was slowing down that last summer, he couldn’t have done it without the help of his nephews, Pat and Jeff Gochnour, who also had their own cars to show.

He is survived by his wife Beth, sister Mardella Lower of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter Lynn Ewart of Everett, son Kenneth (Karen) Pavletich of Renton, grandsons Preston Ewart, Seattle, and Spencer Ewart, Los Angeles, California; and granddaughters Sophie Pavletich, Nashville, Tennessee, and Lindsey Pavletich, Bellevue. He also has many nieces and nephews.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Annabelle Pavletich and his brother Gerald Pavletich.

A celebration of life will be held at the Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen, 1401 Sargent Blvd, on Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m. If you have any vintage photos of Joe you are willing to share, please contact Ken@PavletichEng.com.