Paul Landreth

Paul A. Landreth, age 96, of DeKalb, formerly of Rolling Meadows, passed from this earth into the arms of his loving Savior with the love and prayers of his family on Sunday, September 23, 2018.
Paul was born in Axtell, Kansas to Alvin Earl Landreth and Imogene Temple Landreth on October 16, 1921 (although some say it was October 9th!) He was the oldest of 3 children. His baby sister Anna Marie died at 1 week old, and his sister Grace lived into her twenties when she died of a heart problem.
He grew up near Axtell and was active in his local Presbyterian church and in the Kansas Presbyterian youth association. He learned piano and with his sister Grace on trumpet they would play duets for family and church. Music in the house and musical events were a great source of enjoyment for him for his entire life.
He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945 mostly in northern India with the Evacuation Hospital. He had many stories about that time when they were “building the road to Burma”. He was invited to be the chaplain’s assistant and learned to play the organ for chapel. He accompanied the chaplain to mission works in India and credits that for giving him a commitment to supporting foreign mission ministries.
He married Beatrice Jeanette Brewer in Stelvideo, Ohio on November 16, 1949 and she joined him on the farm in Kansas. Together they led Sunday School and youth groups while they were raising their three girls. They loved opening their home to friends and missionaries. There were often extra places at the table or an overnight guest or two whether in Kansas, Rolling Meadows, or at Barb City Manor.
Paul, as the only surviving child of his parents, cared for the family farm in Kansas. One day, while plowing the fields, he felt God calling him into ministry. So, in 1963 at the age of 42, with the blessing of his parents, he sold the family farm in Kansas. He moved his family to Rolling Meadows, Illinois near Chicago. Paul was a carpenter and locksmith for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for 23 years. In these roles, he supported the overall ministry of the school. He was able to attend and graduate from Moody Evening School. He became a chaplain of the Aaron Legion Post and had opportunities to preach and share the Gospel at many locations. To his great joy, he was eventually officially ordained as a minister.
He was a member of Meadows Baptist Church in Rolling Meadows and served as a Sunday school teacher, on summer Bible school staff, and especially as greeter at the front door. On many Sundays, a rose from his garden would be on the welcome counter.
In retirement, he and his wife volunteered in Christian ministries and travelled as much as they could. They loved to go visit family and friends in many places, often pulling their pop-up camper. His favorite times involved taking the family, especially the grandchildren – whether it be car trips, camping or cousin sleepovers in the family room. The Rolling Meadows Senior Center carpenter shop was a favorite place where he created many projects to give as gifts.
After his wife died in 2007, Paul moved to DeKalb, IL near his daughter Ruth and her family. He lived at Barb City Manor where he made many wonderful friends. He led the Bible study there for a short period until his voice became too soft to hear. Cross View Evangelical Free Church became his DeKalb church family and he loved his new friends there.
Paul had a solid faith in Jesus, his Lord and Savior, and he lived out that faith day to day. He was a follower of Jesus for his entire life. He was a kind, patient husband and father and loved his family well. When the son-in-laws, grandchildren, then the great-grandchildren came along, his love just got bigger. Many friends were embraced and became family as well.
Paul loved each member of his family and was quick to share news of them with everyone he met. He was so happy each one found the unique life work that they were meant to do. He prayed for each member of his family by name every night as he went to bed, committing them to God’s care and praying that they would follow God’s ways. He lived his life day to day with no complaints, no matter what happened. He fully trusted in God’s faithfulness: ” . . . the Lord’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)
He is survived by his 3 daughters: Ruth Wood, Janet (Steve) Sharpmack and Carol (Mark) Kohl; 7 Grandchildren: Heather (Chris) Krupa, Andrea (David) Hutchings, Hannah Bea Wood, Matthew (Cindy) Sharpmack, Michael (Heather) Sharpmack, Brian (Ashley) Kohl and Carolyn (Brant) Fuller; 12 great-grandchildren: Katie, Titus, Timothy and Nathan Krupa, Kaven, Keeley, Kairi, and Emiko Hutchings, Ava and Hunter Sharpmack and Elliott and Naomi Kohl. In addition, his Kansas and Ohio families and many other family and friends will also never forget him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, and his wife Bea.
In honor of a life well lived and friendships that bridge many miles, there will be two services to celebrate Paul: A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 7, 2018, at Barb City Manor, 680 Haish Blvd, DeKalb, IL 60115, followed by a time to share memories with family and friends. A funeral service at 11:30 a.m., will be preceded by a visitation from 10-11:15 a.m., on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Meadows Christian Fellowship Church, 2401 Kirchoff Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. Rev. Andrew Bee, pastor of the church, will officiate with interment to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 2501 E Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made directly to Moody Bible Institute, 820 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610. Tributes may also be forwarded to the family on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

In honor of a life well lived and friendships that bridge many miles, there will be two services to celebrate Paul: A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 7, 2018, at Barb City Manor, 680 Haish Blvd, DeKalb, IL 60115, followed by a time to share memories with family and friends. A funeral service at 11:30 a.m., will be preceded by a visitation from 10-11:15 a.m., on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Meadows Christian Fellowship Church, 2401 Kirchoff Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. Rev. Andrew Bee, pastor of the church, will officiate with interment to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 2501 E Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.