Paul Joseph Wurdack, Jr.

Paul Wurdack Jr., age 68, passed on October 24,2022 due to complications from covid. Paul was the beloved husband of Debi (Connell) Wurdack and the proud father of children Paul (Joe) and Katie. Paul's parents were "Doc" Paul J. Wurdack and Theresa (Wajert) Wurdack. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA and was the older brother of Michael and Charles. Paul's family moved to Bethel Park, PA in the 1960's. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1972. Paul was awarded a full AF ROTC scholarship to Lehigh University, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation from Lehigh in 1976 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He attended USAF navigation school at Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA in 1977. He met his future wife, Debi Connell, in October 1977. After this training Paul went to Castle AFB in Merced, CA in February of 1978 for further training to become an Electronic Warfare Officer. From there the USAF sent him to Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, LA. He and Debi married in November 1978 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Sacramento. After five years of his assignment on a B-52 crew, Paul's next assignment was at the Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE. During his AF service there he pursued a master's degree in Computer Systems Mgmt from Creighton University, which he received in December 1986. The family grew with the birth of son, Paul Joseph III (Joe) in 1985 and daughter, Kathleen Louise in 1990. Paul resigned from the AF in 1987 and was hired as an IT specialist by TRW to work at Offutt as a civilian. The family moved to Fairfax County, VA in September 1990, and Paul worked for TRW and then Northrop Grumman at the Naval Research Lab for many years in IT and as a Computer Systems Manager. In later years he worked for TASC and Engility and retired from Engility in November 2017. Paul and Debi moved to CO in 2018 to be near their daughter.

Paul enjoyed vacations at ocean beaches in DE and MD for a few days each summer with the family, from 1991 until 2012. He was happy just watching the children play in the sand or in the waves. He and Debi continued to go to beaches together after the children were grown. Paul also liked family trips to Pittsburgh in the summer to visit his mom and brother Charles for many years, and to visit them and other relatives at Thanksgiving.

He supported Joe and Katie's many activities – soccer, Boy Scouts and helping Joe create a small pond in the backyard; and taking Katie to horseback lessons, as well as watching her in many cheerleading competitions. When she lost her hearing in one ear at age five, Paul read to her extensively after work so she would not fall behind her classmates. Paul brought the family to work sponsored events such as family day at Kings Dominion amusement park, where he and the children would ride on the gas-powered antique cars and some of the other rides together. Paul loved watching the children interact with Santa Claus at the company holiday parties. He brought Joe to many computer shows in the years before the internet, and enjoyed buying computer games for the family. He built a computer in the early 1980's and taught Debi how to program games from computer magazine articles. Paul was a very generous person to family, friends and to various charities- EWTV, Salvation Army, our churches, local food banks and many others.

Paul had many interests outside of work. He loved watching certain TV shows with the family, especially The X Files, West Wing and Jeopardy. He helped the children grow strawberries and pumpkins, tended to tomato plants over the years and planted many trees at our house in Burke, VA. He enjoyed growing roses in his youth and day lilies later in life. He liked model trains and put up a large N scale train set in our Burke basement that we enjoyed watching when he operated it. Paul executed many woodworking projects over the years including 5 bookcases, computer tables, frames for artwork and two large worktables for the garages. He remodeled the Burke, VA kitchen in 2007, including taking out old cabinets and replacing them with new ones, and installing new light fixtures. His last big project was at our Wheat Ridge house, where he removed old tile behind the range, installed new subway tile and put in a large range hood. He always preferred to work on house projects instead of hiring anyone.

Paul enjoyed singing and was a member of his high school choir. He was in the Lehigh University Glee Club and went to Europe with a few other members in the summer of 1976. They would walk into various churches and sing some songs, usually without permission, but they were never kicked out when discovered. He sang in church choirs at the AF bases he worked at and sang in the Nativity Catholic Church choir in VA during the Christmas season every year, as well as during the church fall festival. Paul also played the guitar for many years.
He enjoyed baking and especially liked to make baklava for the family and his co-workers in VA. Paul recently liked to bake breads and white chocolate chip cookies to share. Paul also liked to make various chili recipes. His tastes ran from BBQ to American to French, and he enjoyed eating at places as diverse as Arby's, Culver's, Ginger & Baker and Flagstaff House. He always tried foie gras when it was on the menu. Favorite candies included caramels, saltwater taffy and Mars Midnight bars. Paul also liked selecting fine cheeses, to eat at home. In Ft. Collins he enjoyed going out to dinner with Debi and the neighborhood dining out group, as well as with Debi and Katie and sometimes Katie's fiancé. He often brought lunch to Katie's home to share along with good conversation.

Paul loved the Catholic Church very much and followed its teachings. Even when he wasn't able to go to Mass, he watched EWTV every Sunday.

Paul loved his immediate and extended family. He called his mom every week after his dad died in 1981, until she passed in 2000. When Debi's mom was having difficulties living in assisted living and she asked him if Connie could live with us, he didn't hesitate in saying "yes". For the past 4 years he would talk with his brother Charles almost every week, sometimes for an hour or more. He also was in touch via texts and emails with his brothers, Debi's sister and a couple of old friends.

Paul had a great sense of humor and came up with jokes and quips easily. He never gave away secrets shared with him. He enjoyed watching comedy shows (Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon) on TV and recently enjoyed seeing live comedy shows in Ft. Collins.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, 5 aunts, 3 uncles and 1 cousin. He is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Debi, son Paul J. Wurdack III, daughter-in-law Kim Minnis, daughter Katie, Katie's fiancé Daniel Peter, his brothers Charles and Michael, and two sisters-in-law, Cynthia Connell and Mary Lou Wurdack. Other survivors include many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Family and friends will be notified of the date and time for the visitation/gathering at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Ft Collins, as well as the date and time of the funeral Mass. There will be a private gathering at Grandview Cemetery for a blessing of the urn on another day.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Food Bank for Larimer County would be appreciated.