Paul Michael Schluckebier

Paul was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 26, 1958 to Ralph and Leona Schluckebier. An avid athlete, he participated in baseball and track and earned varsity letters in football, and basketball. Paul graduated as valedictorian from Frankenmuth High School in 1976 and matriculated at Michigan State University. During his time living in Abbot Hall he gained a group of lifelong friends and intramural basketball teammates with whom he continued to reunite at annual MSU tailgates for the remainder of his life. Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Michigan State and completed 3 years of veterinary school before enrolling at Wayne State University School of Medicine where he graduated in the top 5% of his class in 1986. He then completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was there on the labor and delivery floor of MacNeal Hospital that he met the love of his life, Denise Desideri.

After completing his training, he and Denise married and settled in East Lansing, Michigan, where they welcomed daughters Sarah and Anna. For 30 years he was devoted to serving the women of Mid-Michigan, first at Capital Area OB/GYN, and then at Lansing OB/GYN. Quiet, gentle, and patient, he gained the trust of generations of women and brought thousands of babies into the world. He earned awards for teaching residents and students and in 2020 was inducted into the Sparrow Physician Hall of Fame.

A true family man, Paul was happiest at home with his wife, two daughters, and the many pets he came to tolerate. Paul was a lifelong MSU sports fan, holding football and basketball season tickets for several decades. He loved Reese’s peanut butter cups and always had a Diet Mountain Dew at his side. He enjoyed weight-lifting, cycling, and skiing out west with his brother- and sister-in-law.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Schluckebier, and father-in-law, Ronald Desideri. He is survived by his wife of nearly 31 years, Denise, daughters Sarah and Anna, mother Leona, mother-in-law Diones, siblings Mary (John), Tom (Donna), and David (Sunday), many nieces and nephews, dog Rudy, and granddog Bella.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Visitation will be held at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on June 7, 2021. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at 11am on June 8, 2021.