Kittery, ME - Stanley Pawlek, 98, passed away peacefully at home on January 18 ^th .  Stanley was born Stanislaw Pawelek to Josephine and John Pawelek on September 30 ^th , 1923 in the small Polish village of Manasterz located in the rural Southeastern region of the country.

At the dawn of WWII, Stanley was brought to Germany where he spent the war years as a worker on a farm in the Northwestern part of the country.  It was there that he met his wife Sophie who had also been taken from her family in Poland to work in Germany. After the war, Stanley lived in displaced persons camps with his wife and two young children. There he was trained in valuable mechanic skills working for the RAF.

In 1950, Stanley emigrated to the United States with his family and found a home with his aunt Kay Armstrong in Kittery, Maine. Stanley quickly learned the English language and found permanent employment at Ben's Auto Body in Portsmouth, NH where he worked until retirement in 1985. Stanley was an active parishioner at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Kittery.

Stanley always remained connected to his native homeland of Poland and made many trips back to visit family and friends. He assisted a number of Polish immigrants in relocating into the United States.  He was a longtime member and past President of the Polish Club in Newmarket, NH.

Stanley was well known for his July 4 ^th lobster picnics and loved to gather with his family and circle of friends. He was a maker, a fixer, and a collector of countless tools. He rebuilt and gifted cars to his children and grandchildren and liked to be busy creating – whether it was welding steel cookware, fixing upholstery, repairing small engines, and in his later years, cooking.

Stanley loved his family dearly. He is predeceased by his wife, Sophie, who passed away in 2008 and is survived by his two children, his daughter Maria Puglisi of Randolph, Vermont and and his son Marion Pawlek of Kittery Point, Maine. In addition, he is survived by his long-time companion Ewa Goldak of Kittery.  He leaves behind four granddaughters: Carrie Puglisi and Heather Puglisi of Maplewood, New Jersey, Sarah Pawlek  of Amesbury, Massachusetts and Chelsea Hadlock of Sharon, Vermont. His legacy also includes nine great-grand children and many nieces, nephews and cousins who were touched by his spirit and generosity.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Stanley's name to the Table of Plenty at tableofplenty.com or via mail to P.O.Box 232, Berwick, ME 03901.