Michael Anthony Pavelec

Michael passed away peacefully while hiking the Boo Hoff trail with his neighborhood hiking group.

Mike was born on April 25, 1962 and raised in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, alongside his two sisters, brother, and loving parents. During his childhood, he worked at Bullseye Country Club where he met his lifelong best friends and cultivated his love of golf.

He attended the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!) where he received a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Upon graduation, he worked for General Mills in corporate finance in Minneapolis. He returned to the University of Wisconsin and decided to pursue a graduate degree in the Applied Security Analysis program where he got his first experience managing the portfolios for the University of Wisconsin endowment fund. Mike remained an avid Badgers fan for his entire life.

Upon graduation, Mike was accepted into the Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Training program and moved to New York City-- quite the shock coming from the small town he grew up in! After the training program he joined the bond division in Atlanta. It was there that he met the love of his life, Gina, in July of 1990. They married a little over a year later. In 1999, Mike and Gina welcomed their twin children, Lauren and Carson. After living in Atlanta for 18 years, Mike was excited to be asked to join the management team in New York City where he co-ran interest rate sales at Merrill Lynch for the U.S. After a year and a half, the family moved back to Atlanta, and Mike retired a few years later in 2005. Throughout his life, he still loved to dabble in investments and never lost passion for learning about the markets.

Mike felt strongly that his family was the most important aspect of his life, and he was fortunate enough to be able to spend so much of their childhood with his kids. He attended every sporting event and school play, and he was always there for school events and field trips with his children. Lauren and Carson feel so blessed that their dad was able to be so involved in their childhood. Mike made breakfast for the kids and drove them to school every day. In the car, the kids would always beg for dad to play country music instead of listening to Bloomberg. He coached Carson's baseball teams and helped with homework. Mike felt that education was extremely important and it was a top priority for him to provide his children with a good education.

Mike loved making holidays special for his family. He LOVED Christmas-- the family spent hours decorating the house, and Mike would come up with fun things for the elves to do every night to surprise Lauren and Carson. He created Easter bunny scavenger hunts every year that became increasingly more complicated as the kids got older. Mike loved to plan and take his family on trips every summer. From a camper trip in Tennessee to his family's hometown in the Czech Republic, the Pavelec family made so many unforgettable memories over the years.

While living in Atlanta, Mike was deeply involved with St. Brigid Catholic Church. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, organized the church golf tournament, and looked forward each year to selling Christmas trees for the parish. After losing a close college friend to leukemia, Mike became greatly committed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where he volunteered for 10 years including serving as the chairman of the board for the Atlanta chapter for 2 years. Mike always felt that it was important to him to give back to the community after he retired.

In 2021, Mike and Gina decided to live in La Quinta, California, part time. Mike enjoyed making many great friends in the neighborhood, taking up hiking, and living in year-round sunshine.

Lauren remembers her dad as being the most reliable, steady person in her life. There was no question that Mike would always be there to pick her up from the airport no matter the time. He was always there whenever she needed him. He was patient, kind, and slow to anger. Carson will be forever grateful for his father's example of how to be a good man, father, and friend. Over many late-night bowls of ice cream while watching the Braves, and rounds on the golf course, Mike showed Carson how to lead a family. He was best friends with the family dog, Cody. He was the rock of our family, and the love of Gina's life. We loved him dearly.

Mike’s most defining traits were his kindness and joy. Mike was always happy, and he had the most infectious and distinct laugh-- so distinct that his family joked that you could always find him by following the sound of his laughter!

Mike is survived by his wife, Gina; his children, Lauren (26), of New York City and Carson (26), of Boston, MA; and his sisters, Carol Metcalf (Bill) of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and Amy Pavelec of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He is preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Otto Pavelec, and his brother, Johnny Pavelec.

A visitation will be held from 5:00–8:00 PM on Monday, December 15, at Roswell Funeral Home on Mansell Road in Roswell, GA.

A funeral mass will follow at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 16, at St. Brigid Catholic Church on Old Alabama Road. A reception will take place immediately afterward at the Country Club of the South.

A memorial gathering will also be held in La Quinta, CA in January to honor Mike and reflect on the many cherished memories shared with him.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations in honor of Michael Anthony Pavelec to the St. Brigid Catholic Church, earmarked for a St. Joseph statue outside of the church.

Please donate through this link: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZNQH/campaign/C-166ZA?access=tile_direct