Obituary of Paul Petschuch

Mr. Paul Petschuch of Lodi passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2007, at the age of 86. Mr. Petschuch was born in Ratzersdorf, Czechoslovakia, on February 28, 1920, to Andreas and Adele Petschuch. He attended grammar school in Ratzersdorf and trade school in Bratislava. Mr. Petschuch married Ester Gschweng on November 24, 1942. He and Ester were married for 62 years before Ester passed away in October of 2005. Ester is also from Ratzersdorf, Czechoslovakia, and the two were childhood sweethearts. They lived in Heubach, West Germany, from 1948 until 1955. The couple with their two daughters immigrated to Lodi, California, in 1955. He worked for Holz Rubber Company in Lodi as a builder and fabricator for 29 years before retiring in 1985. Mr. Petschuch was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lodi, Hermann Sons of Stockton, Fidelity Society of Stockton, and the Heimatchor also of Stockton. He loved to garden, dance, sing, and tinker with and fix things in his home and on cars. His greatest pastime was traveling with the company of his wife to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Alaska and most of the U.S. States. Paul and Ester were also fond of travel cruises. His winning smile and open hospitality made his home a destination spot for family and friends. He will be so very missed by all who knew him. Mr. Petschuch is survived by daughter Heidi Petschuch of Modesto; daughter Helga Marshall and son-in-law Peter Jr. of Brentwood; grandson Chris Marshall and his wife Corinne of San Jose, his sister-in-law Rosa Kompauer and her husband Michael from Lodi; his sister-in-law Adelheid Lietzke of Germany, and many nieces and nephews and their families in California, Nevada, Germany, Slovakia, and Bolivia. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Ester Petschuch, his brother Viktor Petschuch, and his sister Else Loschonsky both from Germany. A church service will be held Monday, January 22, 2007, 10:00 am at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lodi, followed by interment at the Cherokee Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday 12:00-6:00PM at the Lodi Funeral Home. Remembrances may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1540 West Lodi Avenue, Lodi, CA 95242 or Hospice of San Joaquin County by visiting www.hospicesj.org or by mail at 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95204.