Paul Montei

Paul E. Montei, age 83, passed away peacefully, Friday, December 7, 2007 at Agape Care Systems in Caro, following a lingering illness. Paul was born October 21, 1924 in Fairgrove Township on the family farm, the son of the late Otto & Bessie (Dowling) Montei, and was a lifelong area resident. Paul married the former Margaret Griffin on October 21, 1943 in Caro. From 1945 to 1948, he served with the U.S. Army in Europe and Germany as a mechanic during World War II. After the war, Paul became a licensed pilot, an activity he enjoyed his entire adult life and passed on to his family. Paul will be best remembered as passionate about farming and flying. He started farming as a boy when he was big enough to drive a team of horses and continued until his retirement in 1987. His two passions converged when he built an airstrip on the farm and became a member of the Michigan Flying Farmers Chapter of the International Flying Farmers. Because of his dedication to Michigan Flying Farmers for more than fifty years, Paul was selected as the Man of the Year in 2002 by the association. Paul worked for a year with a local committee planning and setting up the Michigan Agricultural Show that Tuscola County hosted, and helped with the plans for farmers to fly to the exhibition. He was also a member of the Caro Sugar Beet Growers Board for nearly twenty years, retiring in 1989, was a member of the Caro United Methodist Church and the Fairgrove V.F.W. Post 7486. Paul was a devoted family man and friend, and also enjoyed welding, working with and modifying farm machinery. Paul is survived by his wife of over sixty-four years, Margaret Montei of Akron; three sons and their wives, Dennis & Barbara Montei, of Fairgrove, Randy & Deonna Montei of Caro, Monte & Sue Montei of Fairgrove; six grandchildren, Heather, Katherine (Kyle), Nicholas (Peggy), Charles, Maggie and Matthew Montei; four step grandchildren, Heidi (Dale), Jenny, Chris (Kathy) and Keith (Danielle); four step-great-grandsons; one brother, two sisters and their spouses, Linal & Peggy Montei of Fairgrove, Martha McAlpine of Caro, Shirley & Wayne Binder of Caro and many nieces, nephews and friends. Paul was preceded in death by a daughter, Paula Jo Montei in 1980 and by three sisters, Doris Enos, Lucille Ashmun and Irene Smith.