Peggy Lee Pawloski

She was born on Oct. 11, 1948 in Fairbury, Neb., to the late Keith and Thelma (Wyrick) Pickard.

Peggy attended grade school in Verdon, Neb., and graduated from Dawson-Verdon High School in 1966 where she participated in volleyball, cheerleading and was a member of the Dawson Verdon Saddle Club, and later crowned saddle queen in 1965 and 1966. She married the late Scott Schock in Falls City that same year and they had a daughter and a son: Amy Beth and William Jason. She married Kirby Eltiste in Omaha in 1978 and Bob Pawloski in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1989.

Peggy earned The Academic Achievement Award and earned an Associate Degree in General Education from Moberly, Mo., Area Junior College in 1974 and in 1975 graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching degree. In 1986, she earned a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught Kindergarten, first at North School in Falls City and then at Wildwood Elementary in Ralston, Neb. Peggy later headed the gifted program at Ralston Public Schools and was named the district’s Educator of the Year in 1987-88. She moved into the textbook publishing business, taking a position with Silver Burdette & Ginn before joining Scholastic Publishing, where she served as National Director of Training - Education Services for nearly 13 years.

Peggy moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 2009 and worked for Carnegie Learning for a year as Vice President of Professional Services. She was Senior Professional Development Product Manager for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for another year before opening and operating LeWonderment, Inc., a specialty gift shop for curious children and dogs, in the Old Market District of Omaha. After one year of business, she expanded the shop and added Play+Rooms by LeWonderment, a line of furnishings for expanding young minds and encouraging family engagement and learning. Within the last year, Peggy spent her time taking her therapy dog, Gracie, to QLI Rehabilitation Center in Omaha to work with residents.

Peggy was gifted with an incredibly intelligent and creative mind. She had a passion for early childhood literacy and learning, and devoted her entire life to building intellect and curiosity within children.

Her thriving career gave her the opportunity to travel all around the world. Although her most-frequent route was Omaha to New York, N.Y., where Scholastic Publishing was located, Peggy was able to visit France, Japan, Belgium and many more, with her favorite being Germany.

Peggy was always someone who vocally advocated for women in leadership. Alongside that, she loved to read, play with Gracie and catch up with her dear friends, but most importantly, she loved to spend time with her family. She was known as “Nana” to her three granddaughters.

She spent the last decade of her life living in her most-beloved place, the Old Market. After she moved to the area and established LeWonderment, Inc., she quickly became a recognizable Old Market figure, with Gracie by her side. Peggy was always supporting new and life-long local stores, restaurants, coffee shops and businesses in the district.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy (David) Meinzer, of Omaha; son, William J. (Alicia) Schock, of Falls City; granddaughters, Emma, Chloe and Evi Schock, all of Lincoln; sister, Patricia (John) Kyker, of Mesa, AZ; and brother, Jim (Jane) Beavers, of Apache Junction, AZ; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Peggy was preceded in death by her father, Keith Pickard; mother, Thelma Dietze; and stepfather, Jay Beavers.

A visitation for Peggy will be held Saturday, December 17, 2022 from noon to 1 p.m. at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m. with Pastor Pat Abendroth officiating.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.westlawnhillcrest.com for the Pawloski family.