Paul Leafblad

Paul Everett Leafblad slipped free of the bonds of this earth at 1:40 PM on November 23, 2013, at Rolling Hills Manor in Zion, Illinois. His once-deaf ears then heard the voice of his loving Savior say "Welcome home, Paul!". Paul was born to Hildemar and Britta Leafblad on June 30, 1925. He was ninth in the line of eleven siblings. His parents, both born in Sweden, came to the U.S. and settled in Mason, WI. Both families were active in the Bethany Baptist Church in Mason. Hildemar died at age 50 in 1939. In 1943, Paul, Britta, and siblings Earl and Geraldine moved to Bayfield, WI to live with older brother Hilding and family. Shortly after high school graduation that year, 18 year-old Paul walked in to Holm Drug Store in Bayfield for a malt. Behind the counter was 16 year-old Charlotte Watt. Everything changed, and thus began 69 years of romance, laughter, adventure, and a growing love. Paul entered Bethel College in St. Paul in 1946, following Char, who had begun college at Augsburg in Minneapolis in 1945. Paul had a beautiful baritone/bass voice, and soon joined Bob Sandin, Jim Rentz, and Don Patet in an outstanding quartet that represented Bethel. During the school year, they toured the Midwest on weekends, and traveled coast-to-coast in the summers of 1946, 1947, and 1948. Paul and Char got married in Bayfield on September 4, 1948. The young couple moved to Waukegan, IL in 1951, where Paul and his brother, Allan, started Leafblad Landscaping. Paul and Char promptly had three children-Daniel (Barbara) Leafblad, Timothy (Pamela) Leafblad, and Debra (Douglas) Gillaspie. They quickly became active at Immanuel Baptist Church in Waukegan. Paul frequently sang solos, duets, and quartets in church and at countless weddings and funerals. Despite long hours at work and little children, Paul and Char sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and worked with the youth. On a very meager budget they found time to take their little family on many memorable trips to Wisconsin, Canada, and California. For 45 years Paul and brother Allan, along with their sons and grandsons and a tight group of friends, fished in Canada, and hunted in South Dakota, Montana, and Wisconsin. Paul and Char's tiny house on Walnut Street oozed hospitality, and was generally a hub of activity for the neighborhood and church from 1956 -1996. They moved to Door County, WI that year, moving back to Waukegan in 2004. Paul and Char entered Rolling Hills Place in Zion in August 2012. Paul has nine adoring grandchildren, and 12 adorable great-grandchildren. Paul's life was marked by love, laughter, hard work, faith, and shenanigans. He passed that on to his children. He taught mostly by example. He was a masterful storyteller, an outgoing lover of people, a prankster, and the life of the party at gatherings. He was wise, strong, competent, and generous. With the life-changing loss of his hearing in 1997, he showed us how to suffer well. He taught us to count the cost, but do the right thing, and not give up. The greatest gift he left us was faith, and the example of loving God fiercely, and people deeply. On Tuesday, December 3, there will be a visitation at Congdon Funeral Home in Zion from 6-8 PM. On Wednesday, December 4, there will be a visitation at Immanuel Church in Gurnee at 10 AM, followed by a service celebrating his life at 11 AM. A noon lunch will be followed by internment around 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, please direct any gifts to Bethel University in St. Paul, Moody Bible Institute, or Immanuel Church.