Paul R. Unruh

Paul Richard Unruh, 95, of Peoria, IL, passed peacefully to his Heavenly home surrounded by his loving family on December 8, 2023, at Carle Health Proctor Hospital in Peoria.
Paul was born to Rev. Daniel J. and Helene (Esau) Unruh on May 7, 1928, in Hammond, IN.
Paul was married to Donna Lou Ziegler on July 29, 1951, in Peoria.
Paul is survived by his 3 children, Brent (Ann) Unruh of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Brenda (Steven) Graves of Peoria; and Bryce (Melissa) Unruh of St. Petersburg, FL; and his sister, Helen Murrell of Grand Junction, CO. He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren, Eva (Daniel) Gillet of Grand-Corent, France; Erica (Kip) Sharbono of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Spencer Graves of Cedarburg, WI; Michael (Alejandra) Unruh of Peoria; and Sydney Unruh (fiancé, Adam Menelaws) of St. Petersburg, FL; and his 5 great-grandchildren, Beckham and Finn Sharbono and Lena, Natanael and Aidan Gillet.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Donna, his brother Daniel, and his brother-in-law, Harry Murrell.
Paul attended Toulon High School, where he graduated in 1946 with lettering in basketball and track. That fall he enrolled at Bradley University in Peoria and graduated in 1950. He was accepted into the prestigious Sigma Chi fraternity, and was ultimately to become the senior member of a 3-generation Greek legacy, as his sons and one grandson became Sigma Chi's. While enjoying the Greek life, he met and eventually married Donna Lou Ziegler who was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
During his college years, Paul led the Bradley Braves basketball team to many victories; he was the leading scorer for each of his four seasons on the team-only one of two players to achieve this remarkable feat. During his senior year of 1949-1950, Paul was a Consensus First Team All-American, scoring 475 points in his final season alone, and led the Braves to second-place finishes at both the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. Upon graduation, Paul Unruh was known as a master of the jump shot and made history as Bradley's all-time leading scorer, with a total of 1,822 points. He never chose to play in the NBA but was picked 20th overall and drafted by the Indianapolis Olympians in 1950. In 1952, he earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic basketball team for the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, however, he was drafted into the United States Army and missed the opportunity to win a gold medal for his country. After his service in the military ended in 1954, Paul continued his impressive basketball career playing in the National AAU Basketball League's Peoria Cats, where he remained a local inspiration and a hero to many young athletes in the community.
Paul was a veteran of the United States Army serving stateside during the Korean War period from 1952 to 1954. He had the privilege of going on the Greater Peoria Honor flight to Washington D.C. in 2012.
Paul also enjoyed a long career as a life insurance salesman, starting his own practice, Unruh & Morse, in 1982. In later years, he practiced under the Unruh & Unes group of Wells Fargo Advisors, where he had the pleasure of working with his son and grandson.
Paul and his wife developed the Tawny Oaks estate in Edelstein, Illinois. After Donna's death it was purchased by the Peoria Park District with the assistance of the Forest Park Foundation. The property is now part of the Singing Woods Nature Preserve focusing on the rich biological heritage of Central Illinois.
Paul was active in the community as a member of the Peoria Suburban Kiwanis and the Country Club of Peoria, a co-founding member of the Willow Knolls Country Club, and founder of the Bradley Chiefs Club. He was a member of Northwoods Community Church and remained steadfast in his strong Christian faith throughout his years.
Paul will be remembered for his love of family, the thoughtful gifts sent to his grandchildren, and many cherished lifelong friends. He was an avid sports fan of Bradley Braves basketball and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also enjoyed golfing, skiing, swimming, playing tennis and traveling. He was steadfastly involved in participating in the lives of his children and their progeny. No family event or chance to give a hand chosen celebratory gift was ever missed.
The family wishes to extend a grateful "Thank You" to all the staff of Lutheran Hillside Village who provided entertainment, kindness, and spiritual care for Paul. The family would also like to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Carle Health Proctor Hospital Emergency Room, 2 Cardiac Med Surgery floor, and EMT for their amazing, compassionate, competent, and exemplary care of Paul as well as the Palliative Care team and chaplains for their exceptional, heartfelt, comforting support of Paul and his family.
At his request, cremation rites have been accorded and a private family celebration of Paul's life will be held at a later time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Paul & Donna Unruh Endowed Scholarship at Bradley University (Attn: J. Locklier, 1501 Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625; https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/42647/donations/new).