Paul Chovanec Passes Away
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Former American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) member Paul E. Chovanec passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2011, at the age of 63.
Paul grew up on a small farm in Wisconsin, son to parents who had survived the great depression and a father who worked in the navy shipyard. In addition to working the farm, Paul’s father lead an orchestra at fancy dinner clubs in the evening and the couple ran Paul’s Beauty Shop, where they served Milwaukee’s finest clients. Paul Jr., as he was fondly called, began playing music with his father, and learning from his family’s determination and hard work.
Always a top student, Paul attended Milwaukee’s Marquette High School, and then Marquette University, where he was involved with Zeta Beta Tau, Sailing and Karate clubs, and earned a B.A. in 1970. While in college, Paul fostered life-long interests in Economics, Art, and Architecture. A semester spent at Oxford lead to a love of European travel as well, and a fluency in German.
Known as the supportive “Equitation Dad,” the first horse Paul purchased was with Mary Lynn Stables, later moving to Knollwood Farm, where he purchased his first broodmare, one of the last daughters of CHYorktown. While he admitted that his favorite horses to have owned were CHThe Monterey Bay and CHPucker Up, his purchase of World’s Champion Simply Majestic will continue to impact the industry through his get. Known show horses sired include Miss Majesticness, Majestic’s Top Billing, Majestica, and Reserve World’s Champion Majestic’s Jackie O. While both Simply Majestic and Paul retired, the Chovanec family retained many top daughters of their favorite family stud, and he is proving that he is quite the broodmare sire.
He is survived by many cousins and his only daughter, Jonelle N. Chovanec, who will carry on his entrepreneurial spirit with Landmark Farm Inc. While the farm of his youth on 76th street in Milwaukee is now a bustling commercial intersection, Paul assisted in the procuring 60 acres of farmland just west of Saint Charles, Illinois, ultimately leaving Landmark Farm with a family legacy to never be told that “It is what it is,” but rather what “can be” through hard work and determination.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 9, from 3 PM until time of service at 6 PM, at Schmidt & Bartelt, 10121 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53226.
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