Paul Anthony Stehle, 90, of Marianne Estates, Shippenville, Pa., a longtime business and civic leader, died peacefully Friday at home surrounded by those who loved him.

Born May 12, 1925 in Butler, he was the son of the late Paul and Mary Turner Stehle.

He attended Butler High School, the Penn Tech Institute in Pittsburgh and was a veteran of World War II.

Paul proudly served in the United States Army Air Corps with duty in the European Theatre of Operations between 1943 and 1946. During that time, he served in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

He concluded his service at the rank of sergeant.

Paul was the recipient of the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and four Bronze Stars.

Paul began his business and entrepreneurial career in 1948 working in sales for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. Soon he was manager of the Titusville store.

In 1955, he moved into automobile sales in Butler and then Clarion.

In 1958, after deciding it was time to begin working for himself, he entered the field of manufactured home sales creating his own business, Stehle's Mobile Housing, Inc., Shippenville.

Under Paul's leadership and vision, Stehle's Mobile Housing ultimately became one of the most successful mobile home sales businesses in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Early on he expanded his business into the operation of mobile home parks and related endeavors. He was one of the first in the region to own and operate self-serve car washing facilities and eventually moved into the “touch free” aspect of the business.

Paul was an early pioneer in cable television franchise operations. He also established another first in the Clarion area by creating an extensive ministorage warehousing complex and facility near Shippenville.

Paul was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, a longtime authority member of the Clarion County Airport, a member of the Clarion County Hospital Finance Authority during the construction of the new hospital, a member of the Clarion County Historical Society, a director of the Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad and team sponsor of the Shippenville Little League organization.

From 1966 to 1971, he served as a Paint Township Supervisor.

In addition to being a lifelong financial contributor to many charitable and civic organizations, he underwrote the cost of the Marianne Playground in Paint Township, which included the construction of ball fields, tennis courts and various other recreational resources.

He donated land on Route 322, Shippenville, for an animal shelter to be built.

Paul was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and a charter member of the Clarion County Elks.

Throughout his life he loved antique cars of which he owned many. He was an early advocate of the use of computers, especially in a business setting.

Paul was a kind-hearted and an extremely generous and caring man, with a wonderful sense of humor, but above all a loving and devoted husband and father. He was always there to help family and friends and even those he didn't know, during any time of difficulty. He will be sadly missed.

In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Alice “Mae” Bachman Stehle who died March 15, 2011.

He is survived by his three children, his daughter, Karen S. Agresti of Erie and her husband, Judge Thomas Agresti; his son, Thomas P. Stehle of Shippenville and his wife, Barbara Stehle; and his daughter, Susan A. Slike of Shippenville and her husband, Richard Slike; his grandson, Eric Stehle of Emlenton; his great-granddaughter. Kaelynn Stehle; his step-great-grandson, Johnathan Peace; and step-granddaughter, Chelsea Hoyt and her husband, Dale Hoyt, of Camden. Ohio.

He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Stehle Artman of Concordia, Cabot, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Les and Lori Reed, owners of Caring Heart Companions. Their team of exceptional caregivers whose loving and compassionate care of Paul is appreciated beyond words. Thank you Alice, Tammy, Dawn, Kim and Brooke. The family is also grateful to the Clarion Forest VNA Hospice staff for the excellent care given to Paul.

STEHLE — Friends of Paul Anthony Stehle, who died Friday, June 19, 2015, may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and the Christian Wake service will be at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Immaculate Conception Church, Main Street, Clarion, with the Rev. Monty Sayers, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, presiding.

Entombment will be alongside his wife, Alice Mae, at the Cedarview Memorial Park Mausoleum, in Strattanville, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Paul A. Stehle to Tri-County Animal Rescue Center, 9562 Route 322, Shippenville, PA 16254.

STEHLE — Friends of Paul Anthony Stehle, who died Friday, June 19, 2015, may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and the Christian Wake service will be at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Immaculate Conception Church, Main Street, Clarion, with the Rev. Monty Sayers, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, presiding.Entombment will be alongside his wife, Alice Mae, at the Cedarview Memorial Park Mausoleum, in Strattanville, Pa.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Paul A. Stehle to Tri-County Animal Rescue Center, 9562 Route 322, Shippenville, PA 16254.