Paul Weaner

Paul Joseph “Red” Weaner of Napoleon, passed away Monday, April 10 in Sarasota, FL. He was the youngest of 12 children, born April 26, 1933 in Defiance County to Peter and Theresia (Weaver) Weaner. He was preceded in death by his parents, five of his brothers (Monroe, Morey, Bob, Bill, Norm) and five of his sisters (Bernie Weaner, Mary McGaharan, Kate Spengler, Hazel Miller, Geraldine Couture). Rita Bowers of Defiance is the only surviving sibling. Pauline (Bob) Weaner and Millie (Bill) Weaner are surviving in-laws. Paul married Defiance’s Lou Ann Marsh on April 27, 1957, and she survives, along with their two sons Mike and Philip. Mike and his wife, Constance, reside in Sylvania and have three children: Jessica and Jacqueline at home; Paul Michael lives in Bowling Green. Philip and his wife, Amy, live in Lakeland, FL with their two children, Jacob and Travis. “Uncle Joe” is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Paul worked as a teen at his mother’s Sherwood restaurant and graduated from Sherwood-Delaware High School in 1951, where the redhead was known as “Red”. He was Defiance County’s leading scorer in basketball his senior year, averaging 24 points per game. He joined the National Guard while in high school, later served with the Army during the Korea War, and ended his active service in 1955. He held several jobs (turnpike construction, railroad maintenance, Dana-Weatherhead in Antwerp, Sherwood Parks) while earning his degree from Defiance College in 1961. Paul never lost his work ethic, working summer jobs during the first 15 years of his teaching career to earn extra money for family vacations. He also earned a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1966 and did additional post-graduate work at Toledo and Kent State in the 1970s. He began his teaching career in 1961 as a history teacher at Ridgeville Corners High School, where he coached basketball, baseball and softball. He went to Napoleon High School in 1964 where he again taught history, coached cross county, freshman basketball, and was the athletic director for several years. In 1969, he began working at the newly-constructed Four County Joint Vocational School, where he started as an O.W.E. teacher, retiring in 1990 as the Supervisor of Trade & Industry. As a father he volunteered with the Cub Scouts and coached 5th and 6th grade basketball. He was a member of St. Augustine Church, the American Legion, and the Elks Club. In retirement, Paul never lost his sense of humor, nor his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone about anything. He looked forward each November (for 27 years) to loading up the vehicle and heading to Florida for the winter. He also enjoyed time with his sons and grandkids, cooking on the grill, fishing, some traveling, golf, and working around the housing “fixing” things, even if they didn’t need fixing. A memorial service honoring Paul’s life will he be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 21st at the Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon with Rev. Chad Roper officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3-8 p.m. at the funeral home with a Rosary service at 8 p.m. Visitation Friday will be from 10-11 a.m., preceding the memorial service. Burial will be held later in the afternoon at Riverside Cemetery, Defiance. Paul requested that no flowers be sent. If desired, a contribution could be made to the DAV – Disabled American Veterans P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 in his memory.

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Paul Weaner

April 26, 1933 - April 10, 2017