I remember when he took me fishing for the very first time

I miss you grandpa 

My favourite teacher rest in peace.  You will be missed.
Sandra moussiaux

When I heard of Paul's passing I remembered Paul's kind message when my son,Jim, suddenly passed away last April.  Paul was Jim's Jr. High School football coach and mentor.  I wanted Paul's family to know how much that message meant to me and want you to know you are in my prayers.

I will always remember Paul fondly from our days of working together in the Jefferson Middle School office.  Rest in peace.

What a sweet man and one of the most generous. He was a great teacher and just a good, good person. I was proud to call him a friend.

With a heavy heart I extend my deepest sympathy to Marie, Stephen, Thomas,  William and the entire Baeckeroot family. I will miss Paul tremendously as he was not only like a brother but my best friend.  As young boys I will always remember the fun times up north fishing with Paul and his dad (uncle Gabe) on second lake catching some huge pike.  As time went on Paul became a great sportsman as he loved to hunt, fish and just spend time with his dogs in the woods.  I will miss Paul when driving to the cabin and Paul not being there to greet me with his warm and special way.  I will never forget all the holiday and birthday celebrations we had at each others homes which brought us closer as family members.  I will miss Paul when driving either north bound or south bound I 75 freeway passing mile marker 237 calling Paul and saying guess where I am.  Paul would then say my favorite place Murray Hill.  
Because of my illness I deeply regret not being with you on your last day but know I will see you again.  Thank you for the impact you had on my life and for including me as your brother.  I  will miss you Paul.
May God Rest Your Soul in Peace.

You were a great teacher and mentor to students and staff.  You had a heart of gold.  Lakeview High School students and athletes were lucky to have you for all of those years.  Macomb Community College students were also lucky to have you too.  

Rest in peace Mr. Baeckeroot,
Tina (Gargasoulas) Guastella

To Marie and the Baeckeroot family my deepest sympathies for your loss.  Paul was a solid student and classmate at Notre Dame High School.  He was athletic and a solid student.  My fondest recollection of Paul was the day I watched him engaging his skinny track teammates in sprints on the pavement (parking spots) along side the school.  I was headed to board the bus for baseball practice and stopped dead in my tracks.  The track guys were having a beat Paul sprint event (beat the big guy...Paul was about 280 lbs then).  Doesn't matter about the distance (not quite 100yds.}  All the mini-mites would line up to to have at Paul.  Once the command "Go" was given, it was Paulie who disappeared in the distance.  What a hoot.  He dusted off at least three of his teammates before I headed off to practice.  Paulie, you were awesome that day.  Thanks for the memory and the friendship.

I have had two favorite coaches in my history and Mr.B. was one of them. He gave me so much personal attention and committed so much of his personal time traveling us around on weekends to compete, his memory will never be forgotten. I am blessed to have had him as my coach and teacher. I am certain he didn't realize how much of an impact he had on my life. My prayers are with his family and my spirit is with him always.

Marie, Steve, Thomas, William, and your spouses and children, I was devastated at the news of Paul's death. Our families go back almost fifty years together, and there were so many good times. I will always treasure Paul among my very best friends, a truly caring and conscientious man who gave everything he had in everything he tried. Our Sho No No band years were particularly memorable, as was a shared family trip to a London, Ontario, storyland when our kids were very young. Dawn and I are out of town and will be unable to attend the service, but we, along with Scott and Melissa, will be there in spirit. I love you, Paul!

Mr B always made us want to strive to be better.
Prayers from the Albers Clan

Marie, so sad to hear of Paul's passing.  I was wondering why he hadn't been out to visit in a while.  Prayers for you and your family to get through this difficult time.

Our deepest sympathy to the family.  You are all in our thoughts and prayers. 


Eternal Rest grant unto Paul Baeckeroot O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. May his soul and all souls of faithful departed in the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. 

From distant relatives.

My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Baeckeroot family.  Mr. B was my basketball coach in elementary school, when I was the only girl in the league. He was a great coach and mentor to so many young folks.  GOD Bless you, Mr. B!

My deepest sympathies to the Baeckeroot family.  

Coach- the Lakeview family celebrates all that you have done for us.  You certainly played a role in shaping many young people's lives.  Including mine.  Thank you and rest in peace.

Deepest prayers for the family. Love hugs and prayers.

My deepest sympathies to you all. I have nothing but fond memories of Mr. B from Chippewa Jr. High through Lakeview. He was a great teacher and coach.  He will be missed.

Mr. B you always had a special place in my heart in 1976 when I lost my dad you were there for me. You had some great words of encouragement at that time. Thank you so much. May your soul be within God's care thank you for everything you did. God Bless my friend.

Condolences to the Baeckeroot family. Mr B was a great coach someone I appreciated during a rocky time in my life!!  Thank you for making a difference and for teaching me how to run hurdles.

Thank you Mrs. B and family for sharing your husband and father, Coach B/Mr. B with the students and athletes of Chippewa and LHS.  The picture is exactly how he has been in my memory for over 30 years.  I think I'll pull out my old varsity jacket this evening and do a bit of reminiscing, remembering first and foremost what a positive and lasting impact he made on my life.  With deepest sympathies.

My deepest sympathy to you,Marie, and to  your family. Paul will be deeply missed by the many students and Lakeview teachers who have had the pleasure of knowing him. May you be comforted with  the many wonderful memories of your years together.

My deepest sympathys to the Baeckeroot family, Mr B was one of my favorate teachers at chippewa junior high, always so encouraging and kind, He nick named me buzz, Then on to Lakeview he was always a kind face to to lean on and always showed an interest in me and how I was doing, have thought of him fondly through the years.Rest in peace and know you made a difference in many lives...

Our deepest sympathies to the Baeckeroot family.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.

My condolences to his family. I never had him as a teacher, but he would always talk to me in the hall. He was a great guy!

So very sorry.  I had Mr. Baeckeroot for a teacher at Chippewa.  Computer class ... I hated computers but he made the class bearable!  He was such a cool guy.  I wasn't the best behaved student in most classes (talkative) but he kept me in line while still being cool about it.   Never had him for a teacher again but briefly as a track coach.  I hated track too but liked him!  I will always fondly remember him.  My deepest sympathies to his loved ones who lost him way too soon.

I had the privilege of being Paul's supervisor during some of the time that he served as a part-time math teacher at Macomb Community College.  He was a competent and compassionate teacher who was respected and admired by his students.  I want Marie and the family to know how much the College staff appreciated his effort and his cheerful attitude.  He was truly one of the good guys, the kind that you don't see often enough.

My deepest condolences to the family. Paul was a client of our veterinary clinic for many years and loved and treated his dogs like family. He will be missed.
Dr. Kathleen Murphy
Nucci Veterinary Clinic

Mr B was certainly a man that made a positive impact on my life and I'm sure many others.  He had faith in me when I didn't.   He and Mrs B opened their home and family to many of us on the track team at LHS, with great spaghetti dinners made by Mrs B herself.   I pray my children have someone who makes that same impact on their lives;as I was blessed with    a positive  influence, teacher, motivator, coach and great person all around.  We know your up there looking down on us Mr B.  Your legecy will live on.  With a sad heart I say goodbye.   May God's grace and mercy comfort the entire Baeckeroot family.

Our deepest sympathy to the family.  May Paul rest in peace. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Monkowski

Paul will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family now.

Marie, Stephen, Thomas, and William - I want to pass along my sympathy and condolences to you all.  Paul was a great friend and mentor and a great man.  I know he positively influenced many of us over his long career.

To the Baeckeroot family you have my deepest sympathies. So very sorry to hear of Paul passing away.

He was a great role model to many young people, my three sons included. He was a gentle giant and always projected a positive impression on so many.
He will be missed.

George J. Sam Sr.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. B.  I was a student at Lakeview High School - Class of 83 and Mr. B was my track coach - a great coach.  May you find peace as this difficult time.

" I am so very sorry for your loss. I am sending my most heartfelt sympathy during this difficult time. Please know that GOD cares for you PSALMS 29:11

I met Mr. Baeckeroot in 8th grade (September, 1979).  It was the first year that Chippewa/Ottawa had been combined into Jefferson M.S.  He was assigned to be my math teacher.  I liked him from the start.  He had a great sense of humor and really cared about his students learning.  I was very happy when he was then sent to Lakeview to teach.  He convinced me join the girl's track team.  I was very apprehensive, but came to a couple of his practices.  I was hooked.  Coach was always so dedicated to our team.  He will always remain in my memory as one of my all time favorite teachers and mentors.  He knew what I was capable of and pushed me to succeed.  My prayers are with your family.

Dear Baeckeroot family:

Very sorry for your loss. I was in shock when I heard the tragic new, as I know several other former students/players were, as well. Coach B was a great guy who cared about students, players and anybody else who came in contact with him. He had enthusiasm about his job, and that energy carried over to the youngsters. I also talked to him many times through the years and he had great love for his family.  

I will never forget the memories playing for him, and later coaching with him; one special memory was beating Lake Shore at LS on a late 4th down & 10 TD (he talked about that play for decades, any time I ran into him) but we all remember him huddling up the offense: "Fire Series! 23 ISO, 24 ISO, 23 ISO! Get the job done!"

Rest in Peace, teacher, coach, and friend. Already missed.

Deepest sympathy,

Pete Krohta

OBITUARY

Paul T. Baeckeroot

August 18, 1943 – February 16, 2016

Kaul Funeral Home

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