ABOUT MIKE PAZANIN

Michael Walter Pazanin was born to Marin and Jerka Pazanin. They came to the U.S. from Croatia, Yugoslavia and settled in Tacoma, WA. where Michael was born.  They moved the family to Chicago where Michael met the love of his life Helen Rynca. He fought courageously in WWII and then came back home to make Helen his bride on August 11,1945.  He owned a local restaurant in Hegewisch, Il. and then went to work at Standard Railway, was President of the local union, retiring in 1980. They moved to Phoenix, AZ. were they resided for 17 years. In 1997 they moved to Huntington Beach CA.  He was a hard workingman, a man of few words…but a great man who created a good life for his family. He was loved and adored by his daughters, Sharon and Michaelyne “Bunny.” He was a wonderful father and an even better grandfather to Brian and Mark. He loved his family, his dog PJ, and we all loved him. 

You can view his memorial video in the slide show HERE.

Like Mike, If I Could be Like Mike

We remember a lot of fun memories from Michael's life and in this section we thought we'd share a few events, things that Mike liked to do and more that stood out to all of us during our time with him.

Mike loved to go fishing whether it was on a lake or the pacific ocean and we were fortunate enough to share one last fishing trip a couple years ago in Austin, TX where oddly enough Bunny caught the most fish, go figure! Mike would even take Sharon to go Smelt fishing when she was a kid. I couldn't touch the wiggle slippery, smelt to pull them off the net, yes, no poles, you'd cast a smelt net, so I'd sneak my gloves to wear, the smirk on Dad's face said it all as he would tease me that I couldn't go if I wore gloves, but he always took me.  I am not even sure what a Smelt Fish is but if it was swimming Mike would catch it.

Mike also loved the Casinos and he loved playing poker machines and betting on the horses at the race track. He'd wear his lucky Capt. Jack's hat and then proceed to hit a few $1,000 on the poker machine then play high roller and treat us all to FREE BUFFET! Which by the way was always good and did I mention FREE! Bunny and Mike used to frequent the race tracks a lot in CA and Mike couldn't get enough of Turf Paradise when he lived in Phoenix. I wish Kalli and Mike could have gone to the track together they could have talked horses all day. She knows how to pick em' too.

He may have questionable TV viewing habits by some but he loved watching reruns of JAG and 24 on TV along with Jerry Springer, too. But admit it you do too.  He loved watching boxing matches on TV. Especially the Spanish fights for which he spoke no Spanish but when two guys are beating each other up you probably don't need to know many words just enjoy the fight. Although I could swear a I heard a few Ole's and Ariba's coming from his room.

Mike was like the human Groupon before it's time. He loved clipping coupons, grocery shopping and cooking (BBQ baby back ribs and  shrimp and rice were 2 of his specialties). I remember he'd get a big kick out of getting like $50 worth of groceries for like $8 and showing us all the receipts. He was like the Frank Sinatra of coupons and all the cashiers at Ralph's, Stater Bros, Vons all knew him. Thank God for Groupon Mike while Mark was in college help keep him from starving.He also used his superpower for good. He used to coupon shop to buy food for Shanti (1st Arizona AIDS hospice) from money Sharon did fundraisers for. The program was called "Mike's Kitchen" and it helped a lot of people in need survive. Mike would buy food with themes in mind to make it more fun hoping they'd eat just a little more to keep their weight up.  Sharon carried that over into her new job and is called the 'sale and coupon queen’ she makes up snack bags for my 100 disabled volunteers, they always notice the thought and fun I try to put into making them special, just like Mike! They thank you and so do I. 

Sharon's fondest memories as a teenager was having to fight to be in the kitchen with him and insisting he teach her to cook. My proudest moments were when he's ask me to cook Thanksgiving dinner with him and the most special was when we'd make his infamous baby-back ribs together, the last time was a few days before he died. The wink and whispered "good job, girl" was all I needed to hear.  

A Poem from Mike's Memorial Card

HeWas Wonderful

In the way he moved with an easy air about him

He Was Wonderful

In the way you could hear his voice from a mile away

He Was Wongerful

In the way he would drop everything if I needed him

He Was Wonderful

In the way he lived his life

And He Was Loved

In the tremendous way that I loved him...

Love, Kiersten

This day is remembered and quietly kept,

No words are needed,

we shall never forget,

For those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day.

Unseen and unheard, but always near,

So loved, so missed, and so very dear.

A Little Dog Angel

High up in the courts of Heaven

Today A little dog-angel waits,

With the other dogs he will not play,  

But he sits alone at the Gates:

"For I know my master will come," says he

"And when he comes, he will call for me."

He sees the spirits that pass him by

As they hasten  towards the throne,

And he watches them with a wistful eye 

As he sits at the gate alone;

"But I know if I just wait patiently"

That someday my Master will come," says he.

And his Master far down on the earth below,

As he sits in his easy chair

Forgets sometimes, and he whistles low

For the dog that is not there;

And the little dog-angel cocks his ears

And dreams that his Master's call he hears.

And I know when at length his Master waits

Outside in the dark and cold

For the hand of Death to open the gates

That lead to the Courts of Gold,

His little dog-angel's eager bark

Will comfort his soul

 While he's still in the dark.

LOVE FOREVER, SHARON