Paul Eric Spanbauer's Obituary
Paul E. Spanbauer, 88, of Westerville, OH, formerly of Decatur, died at 9:45 am, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Columbus Colony Elderly Care in Westerville, Ohio.
Born in Richmond, Indiana on February 6, 1920, to his parents Frank W. Spanbauer and Mary H. Kindermann the second child of three boys.
In his youth, Paul attended the Ephphatha School for the Deaf in Chicago, Illinois and later St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York. He later moved from Medina, New York to Decatur in 1937 with his parents to work in the Spanbauer Greenhouses, Inc. Paul later became part owner with his brother Theodore until it was sold to the Illinois Power Company in 1967. He married his wife Mary Frances Sheppard at St. Patrick Church on July 26, 1947. Mr. Spanbauer also worked for Travers Concrete, Superior Welding and Mason Steel Companies before retiring in 1980. He had a love of making novelty home movies with his 16mm movie cameras and taking pictures to record family events, making home improvement projects and electrical novelties around the house and gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Mary F. Spanbauer Sheppard and their three children: Virginia “Ginny” Furman of Knoxville, TN, Pauline E. Spanbauer of Lanham, MD and Eric F. Spanbauer of Woodbridge, VA; eight grandchildren: Rudolph Furman, Stephanie Furman, Willis Dacanay, Pali Dacanay, Karl Spanbauer, Josef Spanbauer, Eric P. Spanbauer and Theodore “Teddy” Spanbauer.
Paul’s oldest brother Theodore Spanbauer preceded him in death in June 1996 and his youngest brother, Frank W. Spanbauer, Jr. in March 2008.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Saturday, June 14, 2008 in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2155 North Union in Decatur, Illinois, Very Rev. James O’Shea celebrant. Visitation will be one hour before the mass at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Decatur, IL.
The family of Paul Eric Spanbauer is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62568.
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