Paul Edward Gloekler

Paul was born June 7, 1941, to Martin Albert Gloekler Jr. and Audrey Jane (Marklow) Gloekler. A devout follower of his faith, Paul’s Roman Catholic life was formed at home and reinforced as an acolyte in his youth and through his high school years as a student at Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie. After high school, he matriculated at Gannon College (now Gannon University) in Erie, where he served in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corp and was awarded a Bachelor of Accounting degree in 1963.

Newly commissioned as a second lieutenant, Paul served one year of active duty in Vietnam before returning to Erie to begin the next phase of his life. He joined the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and embarked on the beginning of a successful business career that spanned four decades. During his career with IBM, Paul cracked the code for selling typewriters in the education market, earning him the distinction of becoming the youngest marketing manager and then youngest branch manager at IBM. Upon leaving IBM in 1990, he continued his career as a senior vice president of Falk Integrated Technologies, later ID Velocity. In “retirement,” Paul sold senior insurance products.

Paul met the love of his life, Patricia (Patti) Ann Lawson, in 1966 on a blind date, where he took her to dinner. He once recalled, “She was not impressed so much with me, however I fell head over heels for her… ‘love at first sight,’ as it were.” Fortunately, Patti came around, and the two were wed on Oct. 7, 1967.

Paul and Patti welcomed four children into this world. Paul was an active member of the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, devoting much of his time defending the faith as a brother of the Knights of Columbus Notre Dame Council (10514). During his tenure, Paul achieved the rank of Fourth Degree Knight before assuming leadership roles as Faithful Navigator, Grand Knight, District Warden and presently District Deputy. He was also Knights of Columbus Florida State Council Life Director. During this time, Paul founded the Coastal Laps for Life, which resulted in placing nine ultrasound devices in pregnancy centers to encourage women to respect the life of their unborn children to prevent abortions.

Known as, “The Mayor of Asher Ct.,” Paul valued fellowship with family, friends and Brother Knights.

Paul was preceded in death by his father and mother, Martin and Audrey, and his sister, Mary Ann. He is survived by his wife, Patti; his brother, Martin Gloekler of Girard, Penn., and his sister, Barbara Sears of Oxford, Conn.; three nephews and three nieces; his four children and eight grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. He will later be interred at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Fla. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Diocese of St. Augustine’s Mausoleum for the Precious Ones, a project dedicated to providing a resting place for unborn children who have died in the womb.