The Sons will be holding a Celebration of Life for our departed member Paul Ringus. Paul was a comrade and a good and dear friend to many of us. Please join us with Paul’s family in sharing some stories of our time with Paul. The celebration will be on January 8th at 4PM at the Post. Feel free to bring a dish to share afterward.

Paul Anthony Ringus, 73, died Dec. 6, 2011, of respiratory failure and bacterial pneumonia in Leesburg, Fla., with his wife and son, Jack, by his side.

Paul was born July 28, 1938, in Glen Cove, N.Y., and raised in Belmore, Long Island, N.Y. He moved to Alaska in 1964. He was very proud of the fact that he was hired in Canada for his job with Alagco, where he worked for 30 years, receiving a gold watch when he retired. He was a proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 for 45 years and Sons of the American Legion Post 35.

He was one of two sons born to the late Paul and Hazel (Stephens) Ringus, and was the beloved husband of Eva Almquist-Ringus for 23 years.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents; parents; son, Paul III; and his ex-wife, Claudia Hutchison.

Paul touched the lives of many people with his sense of humor, his love of antique cars and going to auctions with his friend J.R. Wilkerson and daughter Laurie and his collecting of things because “some day (he) might need it.”

Surviving are brother, Barry of Loveland, Colorado; sons, Duane (Alice), Vincent and Jack (Darlene); daughters, Kim, Sheryl, April, Laurie and Sonja (Bryan); granddaughters, Jessica (Austin), Jennifer, Morgan, Amanda, Lacy Amanda, Christina, Autumn, Kelly and Beth; grandsons, Eric, Aaron, Benjamin, Guy and Jessie; nephews, Mike and Jimmy; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He also will be missed by his friend, J.R. Wilkerson.

Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life at 4 p.m., Jan. 8 at American Legion Post 35. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Susitna Valley American Legion Post 35 for its Kitchen Fund.

Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, Fla., cared for the family.