Stevan Pekovich Obituary

GRAEAGLE, Calif. - Stevan "Steve" Pekovich, 77, died Jan. 5, 2008, at his home in Graeagle.
Steve was born Feb. 26, 1930, in Billings, to Mike and Mara (Banicevich) Pekovich. He attended Billings High School, where he played basketball (guard) for the Broncs.
Steve served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954 as a radio operator at Birkenfield AFB in Germany, where he continued to play basketball for his base team which won the European championship in 1953. Surrounding the years of his military service, Steve attended Rocky Mountain College in Montana and the University of Illinois, where he graduated in 1958 with a degree in civil engineering.
After graduating, Steve married Darlene Schafnitz of Billings and started his professional career by moving to Southern California for a job with the Los Angeles County Flood Control. He later joined Pacific Soils Engineering where he, along with many of his lifelong friends there, grew it into a successful and highly regarded soils engineering firm. Steve retired from Pacific Soils as its president.
Steve enjoyed fishing, crossword puzzles, country music, coaching baseball, gold panning, growing flowers around his home and feeding peanuts to the birds and squirrels. His greatest passion, however, was his family, and his interests were always those of his children and grandchildren, which included sports, soapbox derby, music bands, woodworking, BB guns, bows and arrows, model airplanes and baseball cards.
Steve was a member of Elks Lodge and was active in the Graeagle Community Church, which he loved dearly.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Darlene Pekovich of Graeagle; son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Mary Pekovich of Cross Plains, Wis.; daughter and son-in-law, JoAnne and Mark Nearman of Boise, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law, Michael Pekovich and Rachel Barclay of Middlebury, Conn.; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Kirstin Pekovich of Meridian, Idaho; sister Anne Pekovich of Billings; sister Josephine Sherman of Billings; sister Minnie Saye of Colonial Heights, Va.; sister Evelyn Stinson of Billings; and 10 grandchildren.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Mike, Eli and Bobbie; and his sister Mara.
Steve was always thankful for the many people who shaped and enriched his life, especially his father, grade school teachers, coworkers at PSE, the Graeagle community and, most of all, his wife Darlene. His generosity and his sensitive, caring nature endeared him to his family, friends, colleagues and neighbors, who will all miss him greatly.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Graeagle Community Church (150 Graeagle-Johnsville Road, Graeagle, 96103, 530- 836-2405), with Pastor Mike Preston officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve Pekovich's name would be kindly received by either Tahoe Forest Hospice, PO Box 759, Truckee, CA 96160; or the Graeagle Community Church, PO Box 1208, Graeagle, CA 96103.
Manny's Funeral Home of Portola, 503-832-4673, is in charge.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.