Paul Longawa

Paul Longawa of Leesburg, IN, died on April 16, 2020 after a short battle with cancer. He was born on May 31, 1952 in East Chicago, IN to John and Mary Rose Longawa and grew up in Hammond (Hessville), IN. He spent most of his life in the Calumet Region, moving to Valparaiso in 2013, and then to Leesburg, IN in 2019.

Paul started working at a very young age and when he was 12 he had a weekly paper route. Before high school he worked as an ice cream boy, washed cars at a used car lot, and worked at a local hardware store.

He attended the Divine Word Seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin for his first 2 years of high school and then attended Morton Senior High School for the remaining 2 years where he graduated in 1970. He attended one semester at Purdue University in the fall of 1970 in the computer science curriculum and then enlisted in the U.S. Army (1971). He went to Fort Bragg in North Carolina to be part of the 82nd Airborne. While there he qualified for Special Forces and completed training to be a Green Beret.

When Paul returned from the Army he started work at Jupiter aluminum manufacturing company. He worked his way up to foreman and at that time enrolled in St. Joseph’s College, where he earned a bachelor's degree and then a master's degree. Paul spent the majority of his career in aluminum manufacturing management, retiring from Aleris Aluminum in 2007. Upon retirement, he started Uncle Paul’s Handyman Services and Home Inspections. It was his favorite job ever and he also loved remodeling all of his homes over the years.

Paul and his wife, Suzette moved to Valparaiso in 2013 and also owned a small home on Lake Shafer where they loved to fish. In 2019 they made the move to Leesburg, so that they could remodel a home and enjoy Tippecanoe Lake full time. Paul worked with his hands (especially woodworking), played golf, enjoyed pool / billiards, and to travel. His favorite travel destinations were the National Parks and Cabo San Lucas. Paul will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by:

Loving Wife – Suzette Clayton of Leesburg

Son - David John (Cindy Pistone) Longawa of Berkley, CA

4 Sisters – Vicky Longawa of Chicago, Martha Polovich of Jonesboro, GA, Fran Towle (Bert) of Petaluma, CA, and Mary Longawa of Lake Station, IN

2 Brothers – John Longawa (Cherie Phoenix) of Thousand Oaks, CA & Christopher Longawa (Debbie) of Warsaw, IN

Nieces – Liz Stan of Pittsburg, PA, Katie Longawa of Big Bear, CA, and Lilly Longawa of Warsaw, IN

Nephews – Eric Polovich (Melissa) of Kenmore, NY, Matt Polovich (Priscilla) of Atlanta, GA, Jonathan Stan (Kelli) of Indianapolis, IN, Samuel Stan (Sara) of Fishers, IN, Nathan Towle of Petaluma, CA, Ben Longawa of Tokyo, Japan, and Josh Longawa of Indianapolis, IN

Two grand-nieces and one grand-nephew

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister - Barbara Stan.

**Due to the current, unprecedented guidelines limiting public gatherings because of the COVID-19 virus, Cremation will take place at Cremation Services of Kosciusko County, 4356 N. St. Rd 15, Warsaw, IN. A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled at a later date.** Owen Family Funeral Home, St. Rd. 13 & CR 500N, North Webster, IN is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to your local food kitchen or pantry, or to www.feedingamerica.org