- Visitation
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
4:00 to 8:00 pm and
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
8:00 to 9:30 am
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
- Service
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
10:00 am
St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL
- Full Obituary
Paul J. Seiberlich Sr., 78, of Highland, IL died Friday, January 5, 2018, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Illinois.
Paul was born December 26, 1939 at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was adopted by his father Paul E. Seiberlich at 3 months of age. On July 2, 1960, he married Lorraine May Eberhart at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Marine, IL. She survives in Highland, Illinois.
He grew up in Marine, Illinois and attended McCray-Dewey High School in Troy, Illinois. He graduated from St. Jacob High School in 1958.
Paul served in the United States Army, Company C 4th Battalion 3rd Regiment from 1960-1972 where he held the rank of Buck Sergeant. He was based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Upon his retirement from the US Army he served as the Administrator of Pensions and Insurance at Laclede Steel in St. Louis, Missouri for 25 years. In 1977, Paul was appointed to the position of National Executive Vice President of the Congress of Independent Unions (CIU) in Alton, Illinois. His position at the CIU was of great importance to the US Government, requiring constant contact and numerous meetings with many members of Congress in Washington D.C. He met directly with President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office of the White House multiple times. He also attended multiple Presidential Inaugurations and the Inaugural Balls that followed (accompanied by Lorraine). He retired from the CIU in 2002.
He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL, a former member of the Highland Jaycees, past President of the Highland Optimist Club, a member of the Highland American Legion Post 439, and a member of the Highland Golf and Country Club.
Paul played slow pitch softball for many years and was the pitcher for L & M and Hi-Top Zobrist teams. The teams and their families became very close and spent much of their free time traveling together and camping at Carlyle and Vandalia Lakes. He loved golfing, boating, water skiing, and travelling. He enjoyed teaching his kids how to water ski, and coached many of their sports teams as well. He was an avid card player and much of his free time was spent with cards in his hands with many of his best friends. He was a huge sports fan and a lifelong supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball and Football teams, St. Louis Blues Hockey Team, St. Louis Rams Football team, and the University of Illinois’ Football and Basketball teams. He relished the chance to travel. Much of his time working was spent traveling throughout the U.S. He and his family traveled extensively in Europe as well--he was particularly fond of Antwerp, Belgium. He loved music and was an enthusiastic history buff. Paul was very passionate about America and the American Military throughout his life.
He deeply loved his wife, children, and grandchildren and dedicated his life to them. Paul gained the respect and instant love of all who knew him and all grew to be among his many many dear friends; each of them has at least one good story to tell about him.
One of his true beliefs was the importance of family and friends to one’s life. He was the ultimate embodiment of unconditional love. He treasured his family and adopted his wife’s family as his own. Paul put his whole heart and soul into being a husband, father, grandfather, brother-in-law, and uncle. As an extension of this love, the love for his wife Lorraine was immeasurable. His main concern was not of himself and the disease he fought, but of the well-being of his wife and family.
For the last 5 years of his life, he battled Lewy Body Dementia, a form of Alzheimer’s Disease. His strength was unmatched and he never lost his memories of the past. He was very blessed to have passed away still knowing who he was and who he loved, and still recognized every face he saw. He passed suddenly, quietly and comfortably at home with Lorraine by his side.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Seiberlich, Highland, IL; children, Vicki (Kip) Pabst, Highland, IL, Paul J. (Michele) Seiberlich Jr., Highland, IL, Lori (David) Bargetzi, Highland, IL; grandchildren, Kole and Claire Pabst, Hunter P.J. Seiberlich, Jared and Dylan Bargetzi; brother and sister-in-laws, Dolores Bender, Audrey Boeser, Tom (Barb) Eberhart, Lorna Brendel; step-sister, Donna Morgan; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews; and his precious dog, Stella.
He was preceded in death by his father, Paul E. Seiberlich; birth mother, Margaret Majzel Richt; mother and father-in-law, Loring and Margaret Eberhart; sister-in-law, Joan Eberhart; brothers-in-law, Richard Eberhart, Harold Bender, and Jerome Boeser; great niece, Taylor Lauren Schwarz; half-brother, Stephen Majzel.
Visitation: Tuesday, January 9, 2018, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and Wednesday, January 10, 2018, from 8:00 to 9:30 am at Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL.
Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 10:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL.
Clergy: Rev. Fr. Pat Jakel, Pastor
Interment: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
Memorials may be made to the family to be used for the construction of a special bench to be placed in Highland in Paul’s honor.
