Paul Carl Schwertmann

A Celebration of Life for Paul Schwertmann will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at noon at the Apostolic Faith Church on SE 52nd & Duke in Portland. Private interment at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. He was born to Carl and Gladys Schwertmann on October 11, 1923 in Kirwin, Kansas and died on March 15, 2013 at his home in Gresham of natural causes.

He moved to Portland in 1933. He joined the army after the outbreak of World War II and served with the 41st Infantry Division in the Pacific. He saw action in New Guinea, Biak, in Mindoro and Mindanao in The Philippines. He was among the first U.S. soldiers to enter Hiroshima after the dropping of the atomic bomb.

He tried many careers before becoming a barber. He owned his own shop in SE Portland for 28 years. He married Shirley Langford in 1947. They had two daughters, Christy (Goe) in 1950 and Lori (Elich) in 1958. He remarried in 1993 to Sheila Hedrick, who had been his girlfriend before the war. She died in 2007.

He is survived by his sister, Gerri Denora, his daughters, six grandchildren (Heather, Matthew, Jennifer, Jessica, Justin and Courtney), eight great grandchildren (Jennaca, Cody, Dalton, Dallas, Cooper, Charlisse, Ainsley and Ellery), nieces Joan Pennings and Gerri Heim. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Pauline.

He was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, combat veteran, patriot, Christian. He loved his family, loved his country and was proud of his service and true in his faith.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Apostolic Faith Church of the Oregon Humane Society. Arrangements entrusted to Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, Oregon.