Paul Phillip Sedlar

1935 - 2025

Paul Phillip Sedlar
Bear Lake
02/21/1935 - 06/12/2025

PaulPhillipSedlar, 90, revered throughout Manistee County as a storyteller, craftsman, and local legend, passed away peacefully at his BearLake home on June12,2025, surrounded by the family he cherished.
Born on February21,1935, in Kaleva, MI, to the late Pete and Ann (Pnovsky)Sedlar, Paul graduated from Kaleva High School in 1953. The same year, he joined the Michigan National Guard, proudly serving through 1961 and earning the enduring nickname "JackPineSavage" for his wilderness wherewithal and capability.
On March23,1963, Paul married BarbaraLynneLoranger at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muskegon. Together they built a vibrant life rooted in faith, hard work, and kindness. He was a longtime member of BearLake Methodist Church-later called BearLake Community Church-where his humble generosity often went unseen but was always felt.
Paul was employed with MartinMarietta Chemical Company prior to launching SedlarCustomTreeandLimbRemoval, turning a love of the outdoors into a respected local business. Earlier in life, he worked the family mink farm, producing award-winning pelts that went on to supply celebrated furs in the booming industry of the era.
His passions were steeped within the pastoral woodlands and waterways of the Northern Michigan landscape he deeply loved: trapping, hunting, and fishing, gardening and tilling the soil, the husbandry of horses from Arabian to Thoroughbreds, designing distinctive black-walnut furniture, and trading stories and self-tanned pelts at international expos. Paul reveled in adding to his collection of arrowheads and Native American artifacts and attending old car shows, with an extensive knowledge of the engine blocks and car models of his youth. A well-read historian, Paul delighted in sharing and preserving regional lore and anecdotal history marginalia. Paul was a known prankster and loved a good laugh.
Paul is survived by his devoted wife of 62years, Barbara; their children, Kim (Todd)Lagerquist, Dan (Lisa)Sedlar, ScottSedlar, and NicoleGoodheart; grandchildren and great grandchildren, ClyveLagerquist, GusLagerquist (JordanBarnett), Maeve (Tyler)Bandt, DestinyLaFleur, Mason Milarch, Eli Richmond, TravisLaFleur, Keaton LaFleur, NicholeBeatty, Cadence Beatty, Declan Beatty, IvySedlar (GaryFoster), BrynleeFoster, RhettFoster, ShaniaSedlar, WadeSedlar, and BillieSedlar; sister, PearlSiciliano; brothers, Peter (Diane)Sedlar and PhillipSedlar; brother-in-law, DonChmielewski; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marilyn and JerroldJohnson; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents; in-laws, Tillissa Loranger Anderson and DonovanAnderson; EugeneLoranger; sister, Patricia (Jim )Robertson; brother-in-law, FrankSiciliano; brother, PatrickSedlar; sister, Pam (Floyd)Swanson; sister-in-law, PamSedlar and sister, PriscillaChmielewski.
A celebration of Paul's extraordinary life will be held Saturday, June21,2025, at BearLake Community Church, 7861MainStreet, BearLake. The family will receive visitors from 11a.m. until 12 noon; the funeral service will begin at 12 noon with Pastor JohnScott officiating, followed by a luncheon at the church. In tribute to Paul's signature style, guests are invited to wear their favorite cowboy or cowgirl attire-or a touch of fur.
Paul was cremated in accordance with his wishes. Memorial contributions may be made to BearLake Community Church.
He leaves behind a legacy of grit, hard-work, generosity, and boundless curiosity-echoing through the trees he tended, the stories he told, and the countless lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered
Please share a memory with the family at www.oagrovefh.com. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.