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BORN
1936
DIED
2019
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Paul Beaver Obituary
Lincoln, IL—Paul James Beaver Jr., 82, of Lincoln passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
He was born on March 19, 1936, in Lincoln, IL the son of Paul James and Mildred (Blaum) Beaver Sr. He married Sue Moore on November 24, 1960, in Mt. Pulaski, IL. she survives him in Lincoln.
Paul is also survived by his daughters, Ann Loraine (Ronald) Wolpert of Munster, IN, and Amy Jo (John) O'Donnell of Bloomington, IL; his grandchildren, Ethan Paul Witting, Hannah Michel Witting, Lauren Ashley O'Donnell, and Kevin Patrick O'Donnell; his brother, John (Kathy) Beaver of Lincoln, and his brother-in-law, David Coogan of Lincoln.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Judith Coogan; and one infant sister, Rose.
Paul was a Professor of History at Lincoln College as well as a self-employed real estate appraiser. Paul's interests and accomplishments include: serving as Curator of the Lincoln College Museum at Lincoln College, serving on the Logan County Board, The Logan County Paramedics Association Board, serving as President of the Illinois Chester White Association and along with Paul Beaver and Sons and Families producing many award winning Chester White Swine. He worked with the tourism board on the Looking for Lincoln project, Co-wrote the book Logan County Pictorial History with Paul E. Gleason, and wrote the books Abraham Lincoln in Logan County, Illinois 1834-1860, and The Last Farm Boy. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and The Elks Club. He was a coach and athlete who played on the 1969 State Champion Road Runner Softball team, the Road Runner Basketball team and coached at Elkhart Grade School. He was named Professor Emeritus to Lincoln College, the Grand Marshall of the 2008 Lincoln Community High School Homecoming, Courier Citizen of the Year 2008, and had many more honors and awards too numerous to mention. Last, but not least, he was a die hard Cubs fan who lived long enough to finally see a World Series win.
A memorial service for Paul will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. A memorial gathering will be held following the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Memorial donations may be made in Paul's name to The Lincoln Heritage Museum, Lincoln College, or First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. Services have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Paul Beaver
Sponsored by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home.
Richard Sloan
February 21, 2023
I continue to remember Paul for not only his Lincoln expertise, but for his sincere interest in others and his enthusiasm for life in general. He always knew how NOT to say or do things that would hurt peoples´ feelings, and always looked on the bright side of things. I haven´t come across many people like him. I still miss him.
Richard Sloan
November 15, 2019
Paul was a good friend, and a good supporter of the Lincoln Group of NY. When I was its president, he favored us, back in 1988, with a fine talk about little known Lincoln sites, Ann Rutledge, and the Lincoln College Lincoln Museum, of which he was curator at the time. He loved talking about the Chic. Cubs. Sorry to learn at this late date of his passing. A very knowledgeable Lincoln man, and a fun guy.
Gretchen Genz Davidson
March 16, 2019
I'm so sorry to hear of this. Condolences to Paul's family. He played softball with my father, Will Genz, and they were on the 1969 Road Runner state championship team together.
Jim Garrison
March 6, 2019
Condolences to the entire family. Paul was a gentlemen and all around good guy...
Bob Morris
March 4, 2019
Our deepest sympathies and condolences to all the family. Mr.Beaver was a great man that was much more than just a college professor to many of his students at Lincoln College, and especially the student/athletes. He was an educator, a mentor, but most importantly a friend who provided us with much needed guidance. He was always there to cheer for us at our ballgames; win or lose, laugh at our silly college aged antics, or put an arm around us when sympathy was needed. He was the type of person that every parent hoped their child would be influenced by during their formative years of college. Mr. Beaver will be greatly missed but his positive influences will live on forever. Thank you Mrs. Beaver, Ann, and Amy for sharing him with us. A great man who lived a great life.
Everett Cameron
March 3, 2019
I have several fond memories of Coach Beaver from my grade school track days. He reminded me of them when we met at the Elkhart school reunions over the years. I will remember him as a good man and coach. Peace to family and friends.
Rest in peace coach, you ran a good race.
Leigh Henson
March 2, 2019
John and other family, my deepest sympathy. I continue to enjoy Paul's books, and we communicated during the 2008 Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration at Lincoln. So grateful that he supported my research at that time as the Lincoln community prepared to reenact the 1858 Republican rally there, featuring Abraham Lincoln's stump speech. Forever remembering that Paul was such a big part of the most rewarding hometown experience of my life. D. Leigh Henson
March 2, 2019
Fond memories of Paul. Played a lot of softball with him. Lincoln has lost a true historian and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Bill and Linda Martinie. The Villages, fl
March 1, 2019
When I think of Paul I am reminded of his big smile and his interest in talking to me and my brothers about our sports activities and, of course, our "Chester Whites". What a great friend to the Eimer family and especially to my Dad, Harold.
God Bless the Beaver family.
Geff Eimer
John Swart
March 1, 2019
Was shocked to see Paul's picture at the top of
obituary column. Who's going to keep the "Road
Runners" running?
Phil Bertoni
March 1, 2019
Paul helped rekindle my love of history and especially of the history of my town, Mount Pulaski, and of the personalities and events that helped put it along with Lincoln, Atlanta, Elkhart, Middletown and others on the map. I was privileged to have been asked by Paul to help him with his latest two books: Abraham Lincoln in Logan County, Illinois 1834-1860, and The Last Farm Boy. He would vector me out to Elkhart, Atlanta, Middletown, and the Springfield libraries to gather information and photos to help document his writings. What an unforgettable experience it was working with this Lincoln College History Emeritus, who married his Mount Pulaski sweetheart, Sue Moore. Paul knew as much or more than anyone about the history of Logan County, the City of Lincoln, the Lincoln College Heritage Museum, the vast Scully land estates in Illinois, and Abraham Lincoln as a self-learned surveyor, budding lawyer and politician. Gini and I will miss him terribly, but we will enjoy visiting with Sue in the coming years and keeping track of his two wonderful daughters and their families.
Sherry Shelton Davis-Dodd
March 1, 2019
Paul (PJ) and John were my surrogate big brothers, when I was a kid on the farm. Our parents were neighbors and friends. I'll never forget some of the stunts those guys pulled, and the fun I had. Sadly, we lose track of old friends over time. I enjoyed reading "The Last Farm Boy." It brought back fond memories. I'm sure Paul touched a lot of lives and stirred interest in the history of Lincoln and Logan County.
February 28, 2019
So sorry for your loss. Paul was a very nice man. I truly enjoyed visiting with him at the hog shows. To John Beaver--my old coach. Brenda and I are thinking of you and your family at the very difficult time. Please know that you are in our prayers. We need to get together to visit some time. Dick and Brenda Horner
George Yard
February 28, 2019
Paul was my college room mate, member of my wedding party and a great friend. He was a man of great accomplishments and will be missed by all...
jean proctor, Meikle
February 28, 2019
mr beaver (john)thoughts and prayers to your family
Nancy Adkisson
February 27, 2019
I was so sorry to read of Paul's passing. Please know that your whole family is in my thoughts and on my prayer list.
February 27, 2019
Sue, Ann, and Amy and Family. Gene and I would like to offer our condolences. There are varied connections with our families from high school, to musicals, to Woman's Club and neighbors. But there are deeper connections that come from a very significant and close relationship that happened during the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Years in Lincoln, IL. The books Paul wrote, the strong connection with Lincoln College and coming from a small town background were significant. For several years I saw Paul at Main Street Lincoln (MSL) on many occasions. Sue and Paul delivered a grant application to Springfield on a fall day for MSL. We receive a very nice grant dedicated to historical commemorations for Abraham Lincoln while in Lincoln. Theresa, Jackie, Paul and I became a downtown quartet as we carried out our projects to fulfill the grant. Our projects can bee seen throughout the county as well as downtown and the Lincoln Heritage Museum. Paul always had wonderful stories to tell and history to share. Sue and the girls (Ann and Amy) were often the topic of his conversation Theresa, Jackie and I became the girls also. I often wonder were there other working relationship Paul had where he was referred to a Paul and the Girls. So Sue, Ann and Amy, we know that you now have a void which cannot be filled but the joy he wanted to bring to anyone he knew through historical perspective, he was center stage. We appreciated him deeply and knew him as a very dear friend. Gene and Wanda Lee, Theresa and Les, and Jackie and Skip.
J M
February 27, 2019
Please accept my sincere condolences at this sad time for the loss of your dear loved one.
John 17:3
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