| Notes |
- Obit: http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2015-03-17/paul-springer.html
FISHER – Paul "Pete" Valentine Springer, 90, formerly of Fisher, died peacefully at 2:15 a.m. Saturday (March 14, 2015) at Country Health Care in Gifford, where he had been a resident.
Celebration of life services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher. Private burial will be in East Bend Memorial Gardens, Fisher.
Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is in charge of the arrangements.
Pete was born near Saybrook on Jan. 18, 1925. He was the second son of Theodore and Leah Springer, and was raised on hard work during the Depression years with four brothers (Robert, Wilfred, Myron and Merle) and a sister (Irene). His grandfather, Valentine W. Springer, an Anabaptist conscientious objector, had emigrated in 1887 from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France to Illinois where he met and married Emelia Unzicker in 1895.
Pete was the only one of his siblings who remained in the area of his upbringing, close to his parents and religious roots. The six siblings and their families remained close throughout their lives, reuniting year after year.
In 1945, Pete did volunteer relief work on a cattle boat to Poland, returning to New York City to see the Broadway show "Oklahoma" and celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square. In 1948, he married Aldythe Mae Zehr from Flanagan, whom he met on a blind date. They were married for 66 years in Fisher and raised three children, P. Gregory (Lee) Springer of Urbana, Susan Elaine (Glen) Kliewer of Hillsboro, Kan., and Beth Ellen (Mark) Ingold of Fisher.
Pete had a range of talents, pursuing ethical and adventurous paths. He had admirable mechanical and carpenter skills. He had a keen facility for buying and selling houses and vehicles, frequently remodeling homes, relocating his family nine times in the village of Fisher. He managed the Springer Implement Co. for farm equipment. He reliably could find a good deal for vehicles for his children and grandchildren. He tinkered with electronics and recording technology, serving as the recording engineer for church and a local radio station. He played harmonica and sang with friends, as well as encouraging and recording the music that Aldythe performed with a women's trio. Later, he became a top salesman of large appliances for Sears.
His devotion to Aldie and his children never ceased. He accepted a challenge by his uncle Elmer to move and work to develop low income housing in the poverty-ridden mountains of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, in 1962, his three children in tow, and he managed the estate of his beloved aunt, Clara.
He and his family traveled and camped throughout the United States, taking joy in the landscape and its people. Together, Pete and Aldie continued to explore the 48 states, and later Pete crafted clocks and birdhouses during his so-called retirement. He wrote letters and memoirs, and researched collections of genealogy, compiling his and Aldie's family trees, tracking down and photographing gravestones.
Above all, Pete expressed life-long appreciation and love for Aldie, celebrating their union annually, rarely wishing to be apart to the end of their days. Even in times of hardship, he maintained an old-fashioned sense of humor and laughter.
He has seven grandchildren, Henry Springer, Ernie Springer, Myles Valentine Springer, Jocelyn (Darren) Busick, Meredith (Caleb) Sarver, Benjamin (Nicole) Ingold and Amanda Ingold; and five great-grandchildren, Gracie, Ryan, Olivia and Josiah Ingold and Abilene Valentine Busick. He will be remembered for the steadfastness of his beliefs, faithfulness and love.
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1925 - 2015 (90 years)
