Paul van Valkenburgh

Mr. van Valkenburgh departed on June 21, 2009 at age 77. Throughout his life, he was always deeply devoted to his family and friends. As a child he grew up in Garrison, and spent his weekends with his family up in the Catskills Mountains. Throughout Paul's whole life he enjoyed traveling to the Catskill Mountains to spend time picking wild fruit berries or fishing. During the past 30 years, Paul also enjoyed his many visits to Europe. He was especially fond of Kiel week in Northern Germany. During this week-long festival, Paul enjoyed sitting with friends at the festivals open markets with mug of local beer and bake-kuchen.

Paul was an accomplished Hudson River painter. He spent much of his retirement years painting lighthouses along the Hudson Valley and the Northern U.S. and Nova Scotia coastline. When he traveled to Germany or Norway he spent much time painting in the Alps or the Norwegian fjords.

Paul also enjoyed sailing his boat along the Connecticut coastline. At home you could always see him restoring his army jeep or brush-hogging the farm. He looked forward to getting onto his farm tractor every spring and spending time out in the fields. In August, Paul could be found picking blueberries at Greg Farm in Red Hook, New York. In addition to the above, he also spent many years on weekends promoting German American and Scandinavian culture at regional events.

Earlier in Paul's life, he fought in the Korean War and later retired from the Army as a Level 3 Warrant Officer with his last duty assignment at West Point, NY. In recent years, he was an active member of the Red Hook, NY VFW Chapter #7765. He was also a life time member of the MASONIC Lodge #72, in Williston, VT and the van Valkenburgh Family Association (Branch 1).

Paul received Engineering Degree from the University of Bridgeport in 1976 followed by Graduate Degree in Engineering from Cal Poly University while working for IBM in 1980. In 1989 he retired from IBM.

Paul was born into the family of Harvey and Doris van Valkenburgh and he leaves behind his devoted wife, Marie, his son Gregory and daughter-in Law Christine; two daughters Noreen and Sonya, and two grand children, Samantha and Tim James; Paul's sister, Joan Lohrey, and two nephews: David and Derrick.

Viewing was held at the Clinton Funeral Home, Cold Spring, on June 30. Services will be held at St. Philips Church, Garrison, on July 1st at 10am, followed by a traditional burial at St. Philips cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Paul van Valkenburgh's honor to the following organizations: (1) German American Club of Northern Catskill, PO Box 52, Margaretville, NY 12455; (2) Redhook VFW Chapter 7765, PO Box 293, Red Hook, NY 12571; (3) St. Philips Church in Garrison NY; (4) US Heart Research Center.