Paul Pennels

Paul L. Pennels was an honest and straightforward individual who took every opportunity to enjoy life. Paul was a gifted and talented man who used his abilities to make a wonderful life for his family as well as those less fortunate. He found the greatest joy in the presence of his loved ones.

The year was 1914 and great changes were sweeping across the country. The skies had darkened over Europe and the raging conflict slowly dragged the U.S. down into the trenches of war. People everywhere braced for the conflict as everybody from farmers to factory workers rallied to support the troops abroad. However, for LeRoy and Lizzie (Burns) Pennels of Kalamazoo, Michigan, times were simpler. On December 21, 1914, the Pennels welcomed the birth of their oldest child, son Paul, into a family that would soon grow to include a younger sister, Hazel. Paul’s father was a painter by trade and his mother was a homemaker who took in laundry and ironing to support her family. Because of some problems, Paul’s father left the family when he was five. Although times were often difficult, Paul’s family was filled with love. Paul and his sister were raised by his mother and grew up on Mable Street in a large home. Since they had so much room, she took in boarders to live upstairs, which also helped to support the family. While attending the area schools, Paul also had a very large paper route delivering the Kalamazoo Gazette throughout the neighborhood. Already at thirteen, he was helping to provide for his family with the money he earned from his route. Paul was a very bright young man and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1933 with a 4.0 grade point average. He enjoyed participating in soccer and also played the violin.

After graduating, Paul was attending a Methodist youth group when he took notice of a young lady named Wilma Stimson. He pursued Wilma by enlisting her brother to help him get a date with her. Wilma fell head over heels for Paul and thought he was a “swell” guy. Despite the fact that Wilma’s parents did not endorse their relationship because of Paul’s lack of a father and that he smoked, the young couple couldn’t deny what was in their hearts. After dating for about five years, they were happily married on a “snowy” May 4, 1938, at the First Methodist Church. Like so many newlyweds, there wasn’t any money for a honeymoon. They began their new life together by building their home on Fairfield Drive. Through the construction process, the young couple lived in the garage. Now they had a home where they could lovingly raise their three children, Barbara, Pat, and Don, together.

Paul was an excellent father and he loved his children more than anything on earth. He wanted to be a part of his children’s daily lives and so he became active with the Girl Scouts at Camp Mary Wood. He was the head of the “Dad’s Patrol” which was responsible for opening and closing the girl’s summer camp. He worked with his son to build a hydroplane boat as a project they could do together and enjoy. He helped each of his children with home renovation projects, which was greatly appreciated. Paul enjoyed being outdoors and kept the family busy with many projects around the lake home, like digging the drywell (twice), painting the wicker furniture, adding on a new addition, and putting new “flashing” on the chimney when it was 95 degrees up on the roof!

Paul worked hard to support his young family. He was a very skilled machinist and worked at KVP Southerland until shortly after his wedding. He then started working for Clarage Fan Co., which made fans to support the war efforts overseas. This job kept Paul from being called to military duty. After 15 years at Clarage Fan, Paul’s father-in-law persuaded him to apply for a machinist job at the Upjohn Company and was quickly hired to work at the new Portage facilities. Paul became the foreman that supervised the move from the downtown offices to the new Portage facility. Paul was honored with the W.E. Upjohn Award in 1972. He retired in 1977, after 30 years of dedicated service.

Paul and Wilma took up retirement in Irons, Michigan, and spent their winter months in warmer Florida or Arizona. They also enjoyed traveling to many destinations around the world. They were both active members at Simpson United Methodist church and later at Westwood United Methodist Church where they volunteered their help in many church activities. Paul found great joy in singing many of his favorite church hymns. Wilma loved having an all around handy man in the house. Paul was “Mr. Fix It” and as long as he was around they didn’t need a repairman. Paul was fearless and probably gave Wilma some gray hair. For instance, when he put a ladder on top of their two-story house to put an antenna on the roof. Wilma was a true and wonderful housewife making sure her husband’s needs were always met. It was family tradition to can dill pickles together, and Paul was the “pickle packer”. Paul and Wilma reaffirmed their love for each other on their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows surrounded by their family and friends. Unfortunately, in 1996 Wilma became frail with cancer and also had dementia. Paul tenderly cared for his beloved wife for two years, even putting his health issues aside, so that he could be there in her time of need. Paul honored his vows to Wilma “until death do us part” until her passing on August 18, 1998.

There were many activities that Paul enjoyed through out his life. He loved to spend time outdoors and every year he took his family on a two week vacation. to Sauble Lake. In the early years, Paul enjoyed being an active bowler at Lakeshore Lanes in Vicksburg. He also ventured up north to his favorite place for deer hunting, was an avid car race fan, and religiously traveled to Indianapolis every Memorial Day to see the Indy 500. Paul enjoyed the comedy of Red Skelton , and the music of Tennessee Ernie Ford singing the Old Rugged Cross and 16 Tons. He enjoyed sitting down to the Friday night fights, which he whole-heartedly got involved in, or maybe a good Atlanta Braves baseball game. He was a life member of the #513 F&AM Masonic Lodge.

In later years, Paul’s children made him a grandfather. Being retired, he had plenty of time to spend with his seven grandchildren. He loved being up at the lake surrounded by their love and smiles, while they were playing or swimming. They all held a special place in grandpa’s heart. He often dove off the end of the dock and tried to fool the kids with where he would come up for air.

Paul was a “tell it like it is” kind of guy that loved his family deeply with a large and benevolent heart. Memories of your times together will become treasures of the heart. He will be greatly missed.

OBITUARY

Paul L. Pennels died peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2004, at Rose Arbor Hospice with his family at his side. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Pennels, a sister, Hazel Murphy, his parents, 2 step fathers, Ray Lancaster and Asa Roderick. Surviving are his 3 children: Barbara (Bari) Davan of South Haven, MI and The Villages, FL; Patricia (Gerry) Geistler of Bismarck, ND; Don (Sandy) Pennels of Kalamazoo; 7 grandchildren: Lisa (Jon) Zimmerlee, Pamela (Joe) Vesey, Ryan, Kristin and Brent Pennels, Kelly and Todd Geistler; a great-granddaughter Sara Aileen Zimmerlee and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may spend time with the family on Sunday, January 11, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the BETZLER LIFE STORY FUNERAL HOME, Stadium Drive West of US-131, 375-2900, where a Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, January 12, at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Eric Beck officiating. Following the service, food and fellowship will be shared at the West Wood Methodist Church. Private interment will take place at Mt. EverRest Cemetery. To read Paul’s complete life story, share a memory, or make memorial contributions to Rose Arbor Hospice, please visit his personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com