Paul Haibach

Paul Richard Haibach, aged 69 of Erie, Pennsylvania, passed away on Tuesday November 16, 2021 at AHN St. Vincent Hospital.

He was born in Erie on September 26, 1952, a son of the late Robert Paul and Verna Haibach (Cramer).

Paul worked in maintenance for the Times Publishing Company until retirement.  He then served two terms as a Township Supervisor with additional service as Road Master and the Emergency Management Coordinator for Limestone Township (Tidioute), Warren County, Pennsylvania before returning to Erie in 2012.

He was a member of the Olive Temple Lodge No. 557, F. & A.M. (Tionesta, PA), a Past Worshipful Master and coroneted 32^nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite. Paul was a lifetime member of the NRA and an avid hunter, fisherman, gardener, expert knife sharpener with reverence for Japanese, German, and USA steel; a former Fort Leboeuf wrestler and a martial artist, woodsman, carpenter, and builder that could fix, restore, build, or make just about anything. He also enjoyed cooking and canning, making world class sauerkraut, venison, and pickles, as well as spending time with family and friends.

Paul was very proud of his blue-blooded heritage as a white haired, red-blooded Erieite. His Erie roots run back through to such notables as PSV Hamot (1784-1846) who immigrated from Paris France to Erie in 1805, Max Boniface Haibach (1883-1967; The Erie Sheriff 1914-1918) whose parents, Bernard and Anna (Bosch) Haibach, immigrated from Germany, among others who moved here long before from elsewhere. When Paul was 14 he was quite disheartened when some of his family elders closed the Haibach Meats packing plant that Bernard started a century before. He carried on nonetheless, thriving through a life career of serving wherever he was at and loving those who knew him regardless of where they were at (e.g. traveling around the world, thriving in place, or struggling at home). Even in his last couple years in an over-aged earthly body, he continued to model and share skills, trades, and wisdom with all who would receive it.

An occasional Smith’s hot dog further gave him contentment over the years given Haibach Meats shuttered. He especially liked to give and receive food and tools while visiting old friends at Urbaniak’s and around Summit on his return to the area a few years ago (Go Erie!). His son hasn’t quite gotten the family pickle recipe right, but Paul sure liked the dilled beans and fresh squash from last season as well as enjoyed raising the chickens he received from his daughter a few years prior.    

He is survived by his son Jeff (USA Ret.; Gabrielle) Haibach, a daughter Nicole (Steve) Salkeld; four grandchildren, Tristan Haibach, Makayla Haibach, Alexandria Bula, and Collin Bula (USA); a sister Nancy (Doug) Giambra, a brother Ken (Sally) Haibach; his aunt Betty (Cramer-Korell) and uncle Richard Cramer that were as close as a sister and a brother; and his friend Kathy, who was one of his primary caregivers over the past three years, along with her sons, Dan (Alicia) Confer and David (Shellie) Confer, daughter Heather (Jesse) Collaizzi, and her grandchildren. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews. 

You may view a memorial slide show online using password Red-Hawk at veteran-cr.com/paulh 

Further arrangements will be announced later by Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services, Inc., Wintergreen, 2532 Norcross Road, Erie, PA.

Memorials may be made in honor of Paul, a true soldier with lifelong service to family, friends, God and country to: Shriners Hospital, 1645 West 8^th Street, Erie, PA 16505 or the Christian Church within Erie County, PA you believe to be most honoring.