Paul E. Richardson, Sr. Obituary (1928 - 2017)

Paul Eugene Richardson, Sr., 88, of Bloomington, passed away at 1:09 p.m., Friday, March 10, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Historic St. Patrick Church in Bloomington with Rev. Jeff Windy, Rev. Joseph Mary Brown and Rev. Jeffrey Stirniman concelebrating. Military rites will be accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.In lieu of flowers, the family requests Masses or donations in Pauls name to Historic St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bloomington.Paul was born July 16, 1928 in Bloomington, the son of Cecil Richardson and Gertrude "Sis" Harris. He married Dolores "Dee" Abfalder on November 12, 1949 in Bloomington.Survivors include Dee, his wife of 67 years and affectionately known to Paul as Tootsie, five children, Diane (David) Sanders of Normal, Paul, Jr of LeRoy, Daniel (Patricia) of Friant CA, Julie (Chuck) Dennis of Bloomington and Renee Riddle of Downs; 17 grandchildren, Kim Freymann, Shari Fenneman, Cathi Kooyenga, Brian Tay, Keith Tay, Bryce Sanders, Nicole Garcia, Abby Richardson, Tyler Walsh, Laura Maxey, Peter Richardson, John Richardson, Jennifer Murphy, Christopher Daugherty, Michael Dennis, Laura Dennis and Skip Riddle; and 34 great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Cecil "Pooch" Richardson.Paul served in the US Navy from 1945-1949 on the USS Chikaskia-AO 54 and sailed around the world 7 times. He has been a bricklayer since 1954 and was a member and past President of the Bricklayers Allied Craftworkers Local #19. He donated many charitable hours using his masonry skills at such places as Sheridan School, Historic St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Marys Catholic Church in Downs. Paul was still climbing scaffolding up into his 80s. He retired from the City of Bloomington in 1989, serving as Urban Development Officer for 17 years.He was a member of the American Hungarian Family Society; enjoyed hunting, fishing, trips to the Casino, breeding and riding horses, watching classic Western movies for endless hours, and spending quiet time with his Tootsie.Paul was a simple, quiet, humble man of few words, yet humored us with many witty one-liners.