Paul A. Weinstein of Crystal Lake passed away May 9 at JourneyCare in Barrington. Paul was born July 6, 1944, to Jacob and Ellen Weinstein. He grew up in Groveland, IL., where life revolved around school, church, and the farming community. Paul attended a small grade school in a class of 26 students taught by teachers who modeled professionalism in a small, rural community. He was confirmed in the EUB church, a church his family had a part in establishing and in which his mother and aunt taught Sunday School. As part of a farming community which included his grandfather’s farm and orchard, he detasseled corn and worked at Libby’s cannery and Corn Products to earn money for college.
As a teenager he met his future wife through 4-H. After graduation they attended MacMurray college and later earned advanced degrees from NIU. Together they taught for almost forty years at Lake Zurich High School. As a government teacher Paul instilled in his students the importance of being an informed citizen and encouraged them to educate themselves about politics as part of their civic duty.
Paul’s motto was “ A man has to do what a man has to do.” For him that meant loving family unconditionally, giving generously to those in need, having a strong work ethic, and always striving to do the morally right thing. He will be deeply missed, but his memory and legacy will live on through his family, friends, and students.
Paul is survived by his wife Janan; his two daughters Caitlin (Tony) Knute and Sarah (Martin) McGowan; his granddaughters Addison and Charlotte; his sister Lois Book; his sister-in-law, Donna Weinstein; and loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Jacob and Ellen Weinstein and his brother Glenn.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the incredible level of care and empathy for the family on the part of the nurses and doctors at Huntley Hospital and for the nurses at JourneyCare who were such a blessing for them; we felt they were God’s gift of strength and support during Paul’s final days.
A memorial visitation will be held May 20, 2023 from 11am until 12pm at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral home, 500 W Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014. The memorial service will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Helping Paws in Crystal Lake or Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, Iowa.
