Ronald James Pecarovich

December 10, 1932 - December 20, 2021

His birth certificate reads Ronald James Pecarovich born December 10, 1932 to Mitchell David Pecarovich and Nadine Mae (Gilstrap) Pecarovich in Inglewood,Ca. But, he will tell you to call him Ron. Because, Ronald is too fancy. Ron’s family’s tearfully said good bye and gave him their last hugs in St. George,Utah as he began his journey to heaven on December 20, 2021.

My brother, said it felt so unreal, that he was hoping that it was just another prank that Dad was pulling on us. Because, harmless pranks and jokes made my father and everyone around him laugh and smile. During, his final days, a chaplain came to visit my Dad. The chaplain asked, “What did you do for a living?” My father’s response, “I rob banks.” The chaplain laughed. When he asked my Dad if he was a Christian. My Dad replied, “more or less.” Then paused, and said “some days less than more.” My father liked to make people laugh, while living his best life on his own terms.  Less than a month before his passing I took him to an audiologist to have his hearing tested. He decided while we were waiting for the audiologist to arrive in her office to turn her computer keyboard backwards to see if she would notice. When she did, he smirked and pointed to my daughter. When he received a big P.G. & E. bill one hot summer while living in Bakersfield, Ca. He decided to pay that big bill with a BIG check that he created with a  4 foot by 6 foot piece of plywood and used his master art skills to paint a replica of one checks from his checkbook complete with the accurate check number, account number and tracking information. He was on the local news that night smiling while being interviewed holding P.G. & E. ‘s big check which they had to accept as payment, because it had all of the correct banking information.  If you look on the Linkedin site you will see Ron Pecarovich has a professional profile as an Alligator Killer, with experience as a bottle washer at Coca Cola to make sure there were no bugs in the bottles, and a food taster at Wal-mart. It shows his education as reform school. When actually he graduated from Bakersfield High. Also, he graduated from Bakersfield College. Just goes to show you, my Dad can even make LinkedIn silly and funny.

My Dad was hilarious, while at the same time had the strength of Superman. Faster than a speeding bullet, he came home from the Air Force ( after his brother Kenneth passed away) to work long hours at a demanding job, tirelessly beside his father owning and running M.P. Oil and Vacuum Trucking Service, M.P. Environmental services while residing in Bakersfield, Ca. He got married and raised three children. At the during the same time he and my Mom worked together remodeling our homes to create unique designs that could have easily been in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. One afternoon, my Dad single-handedly created a breakfast bar where he sketched each family member’s  face at their place setting and covered the bar in clear Formica. Mom and Dad together designed and solely manufactured a fish pond in the backyard.  Dad metal sculpted a bridge over the pond that you could walk over to admire the fish. Stronger than a locomotive were his creative abilities and skills. My Dad could paint landscapes, an abstract of my Mother and myself, ships at the docks. His artwork is breathtaking. He metal sculpted a 3D Lion Head that was proudly displayed at the Red Lion Inn for years. He created a beautiful sculpture of Don Quixote that was shown at art gallery exhibits in California with his other majestic pieces of metal sculptures.

In the 1980’s he met Barbara Jo Angell (Jody). They fell in love and got married.

In 2001, they moved to St. George, Utah. Where my Dad continued to remodel their homes. During my Dad’s last years he delighted in baking delicious cookies and sending them to family and friends to enjoy.

My Dad had the strength of Superman leaping over a building in a single bound as be battled COPD, Cardiovascular disease that required surgery, and Prostate issues.  Even until the very end, his spirit was strong and determined.  His hospice nurse told me that in all of the years she has been a nurse she had never seen anyone as strong as him.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Jo Pecarovich, son Robb Lightfoot (Karin), daughter Pattina Pecarovich, son Harry Angell (Marie) 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, sister Dawn Calderwood,2 nephews, 1 niece

Ron was pre deceased by his son Jim Pecarovich, father Mitchell David Pecarovich,  mother Nadine Mae (Gilstrap) Pecarovich, brother David Roger Pecarovich , brother Kenneth Patrick Pecarovich.

He will live in our hearts forever. His spirit will continue to inspire all of us as his life stories are shared at our family gatherings. I love you bunches, Dad.