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John Edwin DeVaul, Sr., 78 , the man with a big smile and strong handshake, went home to be with the Lord on May 1, 2014.  He was one of five children, born July 30, 1935, and went on to have five of his own.

John never met a stranger that didn’t become his friend.  He was always quick to step up to help anyone in need.  Throughout the years he mentored many of the local area paper carriers who looked up to him.  He loved vacationing in the Irish Hills, Michigan, spending hours on the water.  He enjoyed boating, canoeing, sailing, and teaching others to water ski.  John was a skilled carpenter and passionately renovated and built several homes.

After giving the Toledo Blade 44 yrs. of service he retired at his lakefront home in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Dewey Lake.  He also drove school bus for special needs children with Washington Local Schools for 25 years.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen DeVaul.  Also surviving are his loving children, Jackie (John) Towell, JoAnn Strzesynski, Julie Law, John DeVaul Jr., and Jeff DeVaul.  He is also loved by 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.  He will be missed by siblings, Mary Bortz, Eileen (Art) Bonfiglio, and James (Roseanne) DeVaul. His memory will be cherished by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Welcoming him in Heaven are his parents, Harry DeVaul and Sophie Golupski, brother Harry DeVaul, son-in-law Paul Strzesynski, 2nd wife Jane DeVaul, and former-wife Bonnie DeVaul.

Visitation will be from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman) Temperance, MI, where funeral services will follow at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.

His family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio for all of their care and compassion.  www.pawlakfuneralhome.com