Paul Reiman Guenther

Born August 21st, 1924 in Buffalo to Harvey and Alice (Rieman) Guenther, Paul was 94 years old.

Paul is predeceased by the love of his life, Marjorie (Fisher), who died in 1993. The high school sweethearts met at Bennett High School. After the war and college, they embarked on a honeymoon lasting over 40 years.

In the early 1950’s, Paul and Marjorie restored their 140-year-old farm house in Hamburg. There they raised their three beautiful, hard-working daughters, the late Marilyn, Barbara, and Karen.Paul made a home of Pine Brook Farm, where the daily chores and expectations were outweighed only by a love for their pets and livestock. Together the Guenthers rode and cared for horses, raised Hereford beef cattle, and had a menagerie of sheep, poultry and a pig. They also boarded horses up to the time of Paul’s passing. Throughout his daughters’ upbringing, Paul passed on his hard- earned skills as an Eagle Scout and Erie County Extension Master Gardener by serving as their 4-H leader for nearly 20 years.

After serving in the US Army Air Corps during WWII, Paul earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the SUNY at Buffalo. He built a career with Mobil Oil and Linde Air then transitioned to teaching at Hutchinson Central Technical School in Buffalo, where he taught for a number of years. Paul’s life was filled with many interests and achievements. He had a passion for music as a patron of the Buffalo Philharmonic and once led the Friends of Vienna music society. Each summer, he would pause work at the farm and bailing hay just long enough to visit the Chautauqua Institute for a week of arts and lecture. He was a skilled musician himself, playing the viola and often accompanied by Marjorie at the piano.He was a member of the Christian Science Church. He was actively involved in the Hamburg Taxpayers Association, and was a thoughtful advocate of zoning restrictions and environmental issues within the town of Hamburg.

Along with his wife Marjorie and daughter Marilyn, Paul was also predeceased by his second wife, Margaret (Russ) and by his younger brother, David Guenther.

He is survived by his younger sister Marie (Harry) Guildford of Florida, daughters Barbara (Mark) Nephew of Gowanda, Karen (Elias) Attea of Tennessee, his eight grandchildren: Nevin (Tina) and Tanya Leiby, Ryan (Katie) Griffin, Alan and Whitney (Jordan Garrow) Nephew, Rose, Paul (Genny Petschulat) and Elias Attea, and two step-grandchildren Sarah Attea (Tom) Griffin and Julie (Zach) Garst. Paul is also survived by six great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Paul’s life and character is an immense inspiration to his entire family. The same passions, pursuits, and beliefs that commanded Paul’s daily endeavors will continue to thrive in the lives of his children and grandchildren.

Friends may call at the SCHINDLER FUNERAL HOME, 44 Center St. Gowanda on Saturday September 15, 2018 from 10-11 a.m. where a Celebration of Life will take place that morning at 11 a.m.If desired, memorials may be made to the SPCA, the Buffalo Philharmonic, or the Friends of Vienna.