- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
OTAKAR PAVLIK 1945 - 2006 Suddenly on January 29, Ota passed away in Trebon, Czech Republic. Ota was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. We loved him with all our hearts and will miss him more than words can say. Predeceased by his parents, Ladislav Pavlik and Marie Pavlikova, he leaves to cherish his memory his wife Katherine; son Stefan; dear grandchildren, Reed and Kali; sister Eva Marie Kay (Harold); sister-in-law Maureen Lukacz (Allan); nephew Martin Stadler; nieces, Susan (Mark), Allana (Liam), Jennifer (Ken); great-niece Stephanie; great-nephews, Marek, Patrick and Quinn and many wonderful and caring friends. Born in Prague, Ota left the Czech Republic in 1968 with his sister and nephew. They enriched our lives by choosing Canada as their new home. A gifted artist, Ota received a Fine Arts Diploma in Sculpture from the University of Manitoba. He applied his talent in his own art and as Sculptor for The Manitoba Museum, 1975 - 2000, where his work remains an enduring legacy for all Manitobans. Ota's contributions to our sense of time and place include the Science Gallery exhibit Matrix and the Boreal Forest Gallery Cree family encampment figures and cliff diorama. His unique work is also featured in the Morden Museum and at interpretive heritage sites in Ignace, ON, Batoche, SK and Pangnirtung NU. These were years of great innovation for museum artists and Ota and his colleagues established the benchmark. Ota was also a keen outdoorsman. He especially loved cross-country skiing and mushroom hunting. He was happiest on oceans and lakes and sailed his pride and joy Praha until health challenges prevailed. Ota, we wish you fair winds and a peaceful journey home. Our love goes with you. Ota will be remembered each moment of our lives. A special gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. If friends so wish, donations may be made in Ota's memory to The Manitoba Museum Foundation, Inc., 190 Rupert Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 0N2, or, to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 04, 2006
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
-
Early in his time in Canada, probably 1971, if I remember correctly (I would have been 16), Ota worked as an electrician at a fly-in fishing camp known as Elk Island Lodge on God's Lake in mid-northern Manitoba. Some of the folks who came up to fish at Elk Island were somewhat predatory in terms of the young women working at the lodge, and I know Ota kept a close eye on us, to make sure we were safe. He was a wonderful man, and I am sorry he died so young...waaaaaaaaaaay before his time. Thank you, Ota, for being you... - Posted by: Lee Prouten (friend from long ago) on: Apr 11, 2023
-
I didnt know my grandpa very well, his work and his life have really inspired me to become an artist just like him. I wish I had known him better. - Posted by: Kali (Granddaughter ) on: May 08, 2015