Paul Philip Peach

Born Paul Philip on August 26, 1930 at home on the family farm in Bedford, Iowa to George and Naomi (Adams) Peach. Paul was the sixth of 12 children including three brothers (Clark, Glen, Alan Dean ) and eight sisters (Marjorie, Louise, Dorothy, Wilma, Irma, Vera, Donna, Marilyn), all of whom preceded him in death. In 1950 he became a carpenter’s apprentice at Whit Builders in Roseville, Michigan building homes as part of the initiative to house WWII veterans at both Detroit Partition and Maurice Rodgers in Southfield Michigan. In 1951 Paul was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country in Europe during the Korean War. Upon being honorably discharge in October 1953 he returned to Michigan and was part of the construction crew that built the SS Edmund Fitzgerald at Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan. He attended Lawrence Institute of Technology (now Lawrence Technological University) in Southfield, Michigan graduating in 1957 as an apprentice carpenter. For a brief time he was employed by Mills Bakery in Detroit during the very early 1960’s. He honed his carpentry skills in the 1960’s while working for the Wally Kosorski company of Clinton Twp Michigan and later the Ederick M. Owen company, also of Clinton Twp. While in Florida Paul worked for Gate City Millwork of Pompano Beach. He was a member of the carpenter’s union in both Michigan and Florida. Paul was often sought after for his expert craftsmanship in commercial trim carpentry. On weekends he often helped friends and neighbors with their home projects. He provided helpful advice to customers in the tool department at Home Depot of Orlando before transferring to Roosevelt Park where he worked before retiring for the last time.

It was while living with his older brother on Winston Street in Detroit that Paul met the girl next-door, Janet Embury, whom he married on September 25, 1954 in Farmington, Michigan. They were happily married for 69-years before Janet’s passing in February 2023. Later in life, he and Janet resided in central Florida (Orlando and later Clermont) for 25 years before returning to Michigan, settling in Norton Shores in April 2003.

Paul was a past member of both the JayCees and Rotary Club of Auburn Heights, Michigan and Lakeshore Woodcarvers Club of Muskegon Michigan. He and Janet often spent their leisure time with family. They enjoyed camping, wood carving and socializing with their friends.

Paul is survived by his four children William (Patricia) Peach, Carol (Kevin) Smith, Dawn Adams, and Steven Peach; grandchildren, Christopher, Will (Ellyce), Ashley (Matthew) Smith, Melissa (Cole) Foust, Evan Boska, and Elizabeth Adams; great-grandchildren, Lily, Caidyn and Carter, Peyton and Maisie, and Emmie; as well as his two beloved fur friends, Emmet and Hunter.

Cremation services in accordance with Paul’s last wishes are coordinated by Ever Rest Funeral Home and Cremation Chapel of Muskegon. Burial, along with Janet, will be in the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Harbor Hospice of Fruitport, Michigan.