Paul John Genshaw went peacefully into Jesus’ awaiting arms, on Sunday, October 8, 2023, after a very long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).
On April 13, 1938, he was born to Samuel and Gertrude (nee DePaul) Genshaw in Cleveland, Ohio.
After graduating from Shaker Heights High School, Paul joined the Marines. Soon after his three-year enlistment, he joined the Morland Hills police force & later transferred to Pepper Pike police. While responding to a call, he and his partner were involved in an accident, in which Paul broke both his legs, forcing him to retire, as a police officer.
Later in life, Paul worked as a security guard for Thistledown racetrack in Cleveland.
Paul enjoyed living on the sailboats he helped build. Two of these boats he christened the Becky II and the Becky III, in honor of his beloved daughter “Becky I”. His interest in boats extended to radio controlled model jet boats, and he named one of them Becky IV!
Leaving Ohio’s cold winters behind, Paul headed to the warmer climates of Florida, California, and Arizona. His favorite spot was Morro Bay, California. He lived there many years with his wife, Joyce.
Coming full circle, Paul and Joyce returned to Ohio in 2015 and his final residence, in Streetsboro, Ohio, which was less than two miles from the house he built in 1970, on Stone Road in Hudson.
Paul loved working with his hands, including carpentry, building things such as a hearth for wood burning stoves, radio controlled (RC) airplanes, gliders, boats and cars. His love of flying RC planes gained him numerous friends all over the country. He also enjoyed hobbies, such as jigsaw puzzles, diamond painting, and model trains.
He enjoyed passing along his knowledge of many things to his friends.
Among his family and friends, Paul was known as an excellent cook and shared this passion with his daughter Becky, along with the love of watching the Indy 500 every year. She returned the favor a few years ago and re-introduced him to NASCAR.
Paul was also an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Indians) and The Ohio State Buckeyes football.
In Heaven, awaited Paul’s parents and his brother Sam.
Continuing to love him here on earth are, his loving wife and caretaker in his final years, Joyce; his daughter Becky (David) Gongwer of Lucas; and stepson Brian Horan (Mary Ann “Moose” Baltas) of Cleveland; step-daughters Renee (Steven) Smith of Battle Creek, MI and Regina (Aloys) Kamwithi of Lucas, who endearingly called him Pop Pop; grandson Michael Kisling and many dear friends, including his first “flying” buddy, Keith Johnson of Medina.
Paul always loved Jesus. In his final years, he became more faithful, as he read and listened to the Bible. He would always remind anyone who was willing to listen, what his mother instilled in him — believe in Jesus and you’ll go to Heaven.
He was always helpful, even in death, as he donated his body to the Cleveland Clinic for further scientific research.
Per his request, there will be no public formal services. However, his family and close friends will have a celebration of his life at a future date. His interment will be Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland.
His family asks for no flowers. If desired, please send a donation in Paul’s name to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (ipffoundation.org) in hope of finding a cure.
