Paul W. Scheetz

After a lengthy illness, Paul William Scheetz, formerly of Lansdale, Doylestown, Blue Bell, and Florida, passed away peacefully at Solaris Senior Living Facility, North Naples, FL on November 29, 2023. He was 88.

He was the beloved husband of the late Sieta vanEesteren until her death in 2017.

Born in Lansdale, Paul was the son of the late Francis Stewart and Helena (Troyard) Scheetz. He was a graduate of Lansdale High School. A successful runner on the school’s cross country team, Paul often finished in first place at many of his meets. He was also a member of the school band and an accomplished pianist. He loved all genres of music, especially classical.

Paul worked diligently to become an Eagle Scout and was accorded the great honor of meeting President Harry Truman at the White House with other Eagle Scouts from around the country.

Upon graduation from high school in 1953, Paul entered the U.S. Navy, where he served for eight years as an airplane mechanic until an eye injury occurred while he was working on an engine. He was very proud of his service to his country.

After his medical discharge, Paul became a finishing carpenter and supervisor for the construction of many houses and churches in the surrounding Philadelphia area. Throughout his career, Paul credited himself with the construction of seventeen churches, various homes, and other buildings.

In 1954, Paul married his high school sweetheart, Joan Miller, the mother of his two children. Together they designed a house, which he built outside of Doylestown. Their home was quite modern for the late 1950s with a stainless-steel island stove top and a sunken living room. He enjoyed landscaping the house and created a beautiful waterfall out of stone, which flowed into a small fishpond at the side of the patio. Paul was most certainly a creative visionary in both design and construction.

Paul had a love for science, astronomy, and space exploration. As a child, he spent much time in the Franklin Institute and its Fels Planetarium. He shared his love of astronomy with his two daughters, often waking them to see various astronomical events, such as comets, meteor showers, and the Aurora Borealis. He taught Wendy and Paula to locate and name the different constellations in the night sky.

An avid gardener, Paul grew test roses for Jackson & Perkins and was most proud of growing a rose that eventually became the Barbara Bush Rose.

In 1984, while maintaining a home in Blue Bell, Paul and his wife, Sieta, discovered a beach condominium at Admiralty Point in Naples, Florida. There he became a member of the grounds and landscaping committee, which he greatly enjoyed. Paul was also highly successful at growing orchids, which he did at Island Walk in Naples. At his last residence, the Beach House, he was most content to sit daily in the courtyard among the flowers, weather permitting. Paul’s love for airplanes also often had him sitting on his balcony watching planes flying into and out of the Naples Airport.

Paul also enjoyed traveling. There were many trips throughout the world, including Greece, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Portugal. He was also an amateur photographer, who captured many beautiful shots on his travels. One of his favorite adventures was a photo safari in Africa, where he was able to snap pictures of wild animals in their natural habitat.

A devoted, loving grandfather and great-grandfather, Paul was especially proud of his entire family and delighted in time spent with them.

Mr. Scheetz is survived by his two daughters: Wendy Hummel, widow of George, and Paula Mackrides and her husband, Craig; three grandchildren: Beth, Nicholas, and Laura; and six great-grandchildren: Chase, Emmett, Mason, Drew, Tenley, and Michael. He is also survived by his two stepchildren: Christien Bauer and Tom (Terese) Platten and his step-grandchildren: Michael (Elizabeth) Bauer, Katherine (Matthew) Weiser, and Isabel Platten.

In addition to his wife, Paul was preceded in death by a step-son, Pieter Platten.

His Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 11:30 AM in Sellersville Cemetery, 25 East Church Street, Sellersvillle, PA 18960.

A Celebration of Life will follow at The Washington House, 136 North Main Street, Sellersville, PA 18960.