Paul Elton Zurfluh went home into the loving arms of Christ our Savior on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 after a short battle with cancer at the age of 69, showing his humor and love and concern for family and friends right to the end.
Paul was born to Paul and Ethel (Stein) Zurfluh on December 28, 1942 in Lincoln, NE. He moved to Kansas at the age of 3. Growing up in Bentley, KS he worked on farms while attending Bentley High. He loved sports and played football, basketball and was a track star, breaking the state pole vault record.
He moved with his family to Lincoln, NE in 1960 where he worked at Goodyear Tire & Rubber and a variety of other jobs, sometimes 3 at a time to support his family. He had a country western band, The Rhythm Masters, which played around the Lincoln area. That’s where he met the love of his life, Sandy Richardson. They were married in Lincoln on July 16, 1977.
They moved to Kearney, NE where they both worked in their home improvement business, Midway Insulation & Siding, until retiring and moving to Cape Fair, MO in 1994. He loved remodeling their home, fishing and visiting with the guests at their bed & breakfast, Lakeside Cottage.
In 2000, they moved to Springfield where he spent his time working in the yard, watching sports and became a very active volunteer with Help Give Hope, a children’s charity. He loved the organization and was named volunteer of the year in 2008.
Paul and Sandy shared the experience of being baptized together in April 2003 at Second Baptist Church where they are members. Paul’s love for the Lord helped him endure the fight against cancer and was at peace.
He was a hard working, kind, funny, jack of all trades, loving man who will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Paul is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Sandy. Children & Families, Tara (Mike) Downie, Lauren, Emily and Ethan of Springfield; Angela (Dave) Goodman, Ryan, Taylor and Drew of Bella Vista AR; Denise Zurfluh and Brook of Lincoln, NE; Kevin (Mary) Zurfluh, Dylan, and Nathan of Estes Park, CO and Leigha (Nick) Sochurek, Katarina and James of Falls Church, VA; Randy (Barb) Zurfluh, Elizabeth and Angela of Lincoln NE. Brother George (Marilyn) Zurfluh and sisters Charlene (LeRoy) Boerger, and Teresa (Doug) Cole.
A memorial service will be held at Second Baptist Church Gathering Room in Springfield on Saturday, April 21st at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Help Give Hope, 2733 E. Battlefield Ste. 332 Springfield MO 65804 or Second Baptist Church, 3111 E. Battlefield, Springfield MO 65804.
Arrangements are under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home East.