Paul Lidrbauch

PAUL A. LIDRBAUCH, aged 78 years, passed on Sunday, August 23, 2015. He will be missed. Born in 1937 to James and Marie Lidrbauch. His wife Joan (Falatek), his brother Norman (Carolyn Bart) and brother-in-law Joseph Falatek (Bonnie Lindsey) survive him, as do his children and their families.

Paul met his amazing wife Joan in Junior High School. “It was the best and luckiest day of my life.” Their first date was a Cleveland Indians ball game. Joan had earned game tickets for straight “A”s. They married after college graduation and had four wonderful kids, Dave (Mary Ann Patrick), Jim (Charlotte Romanick), Janet (Randy Meyer), and Christine (Chick Bills). Each of the spouses is talented too, this is not a dull family.

Continuing that, the six grandkids are GRAND. Dave (Izabella and Katarina – violin, math, sports), Jim (Greg – summa cum laude, George Washington University; Meg – Olin University, engineering), Janet (Phil – EET Graduate from Akron University; Jamie – microbiology major at The Ohio State University).

A process engineer, Paul was graduated from Case Western Reserve with a degree in metallurgy. His employers included Weirton Steel, General Electric and ERICO, and Paul retired from Gibraltar Steel in 2003. Paul was involved in civic activities, PTA president when the kids were young, teaching boys’ soccer from 3rd through 12th grade, and women’s soccer for three years. A Scout Master for Lyndhurst Troop 424 – camping out 10 months of the year in open tents, it was cold.

Over the years Paul used to direct letters to the local papers commenting on situations of interest to him. He missed the excellence of the local Sun Messenger when it changed as the Plain Dealer digitized to less local coverage. Paul was instrumental through petitioning in the total reconstruction in cement of the northern end of Professor Road.

Paul and Joan loved to travel, often to New England, to Europe (Italy, France, Turkey, England), sailing on the Maine Coast in windjammers, assisting with the sails and enjoying great food prepared on a wood-fired stove on the ship. They enjoyed the excellent Arts in Cleveland – Music, Theater, Museums – and especially enjoyed picnics at Blossom Music Center before Orchestra concerts. “it was pure delight.” There was also the Drama from the Playhouse to summer stock in Cleveland, a prime source of Arts at all the lovely venues.

Paul was a 40+ year member of the Cleveland Ski Club in Chardon, Ohio, and was past president and trustee. He and the kids enjoyed skiing there and then in the East, then to the West, and Canada. He especially liked the USRSA Ski race week when 600 skiers of all ages and abilities gathered to race and test each other. He did win some awards and medals. A trip to the Northern Italian Alps in Italy to ski the Dolomites Mountains, and the Olympic venue Cortina d’Ampezzo, to ski there was a special treat. Keeping up with the grandkids was an enjoyable challenge.

Paul also enjoyed golf, playing on the GE Outlaws golf league, as well as playing with his kids and grandkids.

Contributions suggested to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44110.

Funeral services Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 at the funeral home at 4 PM. (Reception following) Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Paul at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) SATURDAY 1 PM UNTIL TIME OF SERVICE.