Paul Schirmer
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Paul E. Schirmer, 78, of Du Quoin, passed away at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at the Fair Acres Nursing Home in Du Quoin.
Paul had worked as a senior draftsman for Consolidated Coal Company for 15 years. He was a well-known local artist. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church at Du Quoin, where he had served as an elder and chairman of the church board and was always willing to help with any church activity. He was a US Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the 5th Com Group of the Air Force retirees.
He was born Dec. 16, 1929, at Chester, the son of John W. and Caroline C. (Sprengel) Schirmer.
Paul married L. Carrel Davis on Sept. 11, 1954, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Louis and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin; two daughters, Kathy McCord and husband Dennis of Carbondale and Kristi Schirmer of San Antonio, Texas; a son, Paul D. Schirmer and wife Jenny of Virginia Beach, Va.; three grandchildren, Megan McCord of Carbondale, Paul R. Schirmer and Scott Schirmer, both of Virginia Beach, Va.; three brothers, John F. Schirmer of San Antonio, Texas, Joseph Schirmer and wife Ruby of Wine Hill, William Schirmer and wife Mary Ann of Carlisle, Penn., and one sister, Clara Hall and husband Warren of Ballwin, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Albert Schirmer, Bertram Schirmer and Charles Schirmer in infancy, and one sister, Marion Douglas.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Mark Buetow officiating.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday at the church.
Burial will be at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Evergreen Cemetery in Chester.
Friends may make memorials to the Bethel Lutheran Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.