Richard Paul "Dick" Pawlisa

Richard Paul “Dick” Pawlisa, age 84, of Salem, Illinois, passed away at 2:45 A.M. on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was born on January 22, 1934 in Centralia, Illinois, the son of the late August and Pauline (Amidei) Pawlisa.  He married Jayne E. Mills on July 24, 1988 at the Methodist Church in Palm Bay, Florida and they later divorced in February of 2016.

Dick is survived by his brothers, Tom Pawlisa and wife Pat of Central City, Illinois, Jim Pawlisa of Central City, Illinois, Augie Pawlisa and wife Carol of Central City, Illinois and Mike Pawlisa of Central City, Illinois; sisters, Joan Hoffman of Central City, Illinois and Gayle Ziegler of Champaign, Illinois and daughter, DiAnn DeMoss and husband Bill of Nashville, Illinois.

Dick grew up in Central City, Illinois and graduated with Centralia Township High School’s Class of 1951.  He moved to California and was employed as a roughneck at Standard Oil of California for 14 years.  He worked on the first oil rig off of the west coast.  He returned to Centralia, Illinois and was employed as a stationary engineer in the boiler plant at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center for 14 years.  He retired in 1995 from the Circles of Care in Melbourne, Florida and returned to Centralia, Illinois.  He was employed at the Crisp Center of Kaskaskia College before retiring in 2016 after 20 years of service. 

Dick enjoyed traveling, going to auctions and most of all, he enjoyed working.  He was known not to stop working on a job until it was totally completed.  He cherished the time he spent with his friends, family and his dog, Lulu.  If you knew him or not, he was always up for a conversation.  Dick never met a stranger.

In accordance with Dick’s wishes, he was cremated.  A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Richard Paul “Dick” Pawlisa will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Central City Baptist Church in Central City, Illinois with Pastor Ashley Olinger officiating.  A Memorial Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 11:00 A.M. until the time of services at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Central City Baptist Church. Inurnment in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Central City, Illinois at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dick’s memory to the Central City Baptist Church in Central City, Illinois or No Kill Animal Shelter in Centralia, Illinois and will be received at the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois.  Please view the online obituary, send condolences or share memories with Mr. Pawlisa’s family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.  Dick would like to extend a special “Thank You” to Jayne Mills Pawlisa, Lulu and to all his fellow co-workers at Kaskaskia College.

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