Paul Martin Petkovsek, 73, of Anahuac, Texas, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Beaumont, Texas, on December 12, 1950, to the late Aline Therese Bonnemaison and Andrew Lawrence Petkovsek, Jr.
Paul graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont, Texas, with the class of 1968 and obtained his Master of Education in School Administration from Lamar University in Beaumont. He had a long and fulfilling career in education, serving as an assistant principal, principal, educational diagnostician, special education teacher, and counselor working with the Anahuac, Lumberton, and Barbers Hill school districts. After officially retiring, he returned to what he enjoyed: teaching. Paul began a new chapter where he taught English at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont.
A devoted Our Lady of Light Catholic Church member in Anahuac and a former Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity member, Paul enjoyed reading, watching Jeopardy, playing dominoes, and spending time with family and friends. He was an avid dog lover known for his kindness, caring nature, and sarcasm. Paul had a unique ability to write limericks from the top of his head. One of his favorite limericks written was:
There once was a fellow, Rene,
Who had a November birthday.
When his day came around,
His feet hit the ground
And he said, “This is my time to play.”
Standing tall physically and in character, he impacted many children throughout his teaching career.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Mary “Gayle” Goodsell Petkovsek; his children, Stephanie Brasher and husband Stephen of Anahuac, and Andrew Petkovsek and Maegan Mont Belvieu; his eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren with two on the way; his siblings, Warren Petkovsek and wife Myra of Lumberton, Rene Petkovsek of LaBelle, and Mary Agnes Petkovsek and husband Ross Jackson of Cedar Park; and a host of other loving family members and friends.
All who knew Paul will cherish his legacy of love, laughter, and dedication to education.
A memorial Mass will be held in Paul’s honor at 5:30pm, on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church, 2207 S. Main Street in Anahuac, with Fr. Phillip Tran as the Celebrant. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the church beginning at 4pm at the church.
Condolences can be shared online with the family by visiting http://www.sterlingfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.