John Pabst

Grandpa John as he was known to most was one of the kindest but firmest grandpas there ever will be. Between his last 6 months battle with cancer and the last 2 weeks with dang pneumonia, he gained his big angel wings at 82 years young.

John Konrad was born on May 10, 1937, to Marie and John Pabst in Sheridan, WY. He has an older brother Larry Pabst of Washington State, and younger siblings Mag and Nancy.

John met Sybil “Joyce” Clements in 1955 and as the story goes they were in love and headed off to get married in Lodge Grass, MT Feb 2, 1957. In 2014 they were back in that area visiting their granddaughter’s ranch and tried to find the old church (unfortunately no longer there).

John could repair and refinish any John Deere tractor that existed but always favored the “B” line of equipment. If he could have, he would have kept every single green tractor he ever owned. John and Joyce owned and operated many different businesses throughout their 62+ years together. He was a woodworker, a craftsman, an entreprenuer, a dad, a grandpa and a loving husband (even though jokingly on occasion telling Grandma Joycie…”If the Price was right Joycie….You might be up for grabs!” Grandpa John always had a giggle and the best hug for anyone who needed it. He was always prepared to scold you when you mess up but followed that with one of his infamous big hugs.

He held strong to his standards of “Do Your Best” with a loving way for his kids, 6 grandkids and his 9 great-grandchildren. His pride grew when his grandson Joshua John and two of his great-grandsons were named after him, Clay John (age 2) and Ridge John (1 month). He loved life, his dogs, going for walks, running haying equipment, helping at the ranch, and being around his grandkids and great-grandkids. If Grandpa could have lived forever we are certain he would have done so only to watch his great-kids and grandkids succeed in life and cheer them on.

He is survived by his faithful and loving wife, Joyce Pabst, children, David (Gerry) Pabst, Carolyn Scheler, Brother Larry (Connie) Pabst. Grandchildren, Krystle (Casey) Doud, Justine (William) Kougl, Jason Scheler, Tyler (Kelsey) Pabst, Joshua Scheler, Christina (George) Thomas. Great-Grandchildren: Clancy, Nora, Cody, Maci, Calissa, Cadey, Clay-John, Ridge-John. He is preceded in death by his great-daughter Quinn Marie Kougl who will meet him with a hug and ready to go ride the trails in the side-by-side in heaven above, his mother and father, his sister Mag, and his son-in-law Michael Scheler.

The Pabst family welcomes you to join us for coffee and cookies to share your memories with the family at the Celebration of Life for Grandpa John Pabst on Friday, January 17, 2020, from 10am-12pm at the Rapid Valley Baptist Church located at 3450 School Dr., Rapid City, SD.