Oxford resident Henry ‘Hank? Paddubny lived the life of a quintessential American.
During his 86 years on Earth, he was a patriot, veteran, entrepreneur, outdoorsman, family man and model citizen.
‘He would never cheat anybody out of a dollar and if they didn’t have dollar, he’d give’em one,? said his son Terry Paddubny.
Paddubny’s death on Thursday, May 7 meant the loss of another from what’s been called the Greatest Generation ? the men and women who endured the Great Depression, defeated the enemies of freedom in World War II and helped the United States become a global superpower.
For American Legion Post 108 in Oxford, of which Paddubny was a proud member for at least 50 years, his passing meant the loss of their ‘ironman? as he was affectionately known.
‘He was just a tough old guy who was always there,? said Jim Parkhurst, Post 108’s museum curator and past commander.
Tough doesn’t even begin to describe Paddubny when one considers his service during WWII.
More than 60 years ago, Paddubny was flying through the treacherous skies of Nazi-occupied Europe in a B-17 as part of the 570th Squadron in the 390th Bombardment Group H.
Paddubny, who served as a gunner, saw his fair share of action from 1943-45 as the 390th participated in 301 operational missions, dropping over 19,000 tons of bombs and destroying or damaging a total of 553 enemy aircraft.
The 390th was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and had the best bombing accuracy in the 8th Air Force.
Following WWII, Paddubny continued his service to his country through his active involvement at Post 108.
Over the years, he sold poppies to help fellow veterans in need, he marched in the Memorial Day parades to honor fallen comrades and he did what he could to make sure American flags flew proudly in front of local businesses along M-24.
‘He was always willing to help,? Parkhurst said. ‘Whatever we needed, he was there to lend a hand.?
Around Oxford, Paddubny enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as an outdoorsman.
Fishermen who needed worms, minnows and some sage advice about the best places to drop a line in these parts went to see Paddubny.
For 17 years, he owned and operated Hank’s Better Bait on N. Washington St. in downtown Oxford. The fishing shop was more of a local institution than a business as the well-liked Paddubny spent his days chatting away with folks.
‘He was outgoing and friendly with everybody he met,? said son Jerry Paddubny.
‘Everybody liked Hank,? said Rose Paddubny, his wife of 61 years.
Despite owning a bait shop, reeling in the big ones was not Paddubny’s passion when he was in the wild.
His first love was trapping, a pastime he began as a boy in Pennsylvania collecting 50-cent bounties on weasels.
Over the years, Paddubny expanded his trapping in the Oxford area to include fox, raccoon, mink, muskrat and opossum.
He’d regularly set between 80 and 85 traps around here and unlike others of his ilk who would use canoes to check their trap line, he always walked his.
In 1993, Paddubny was inducted into the Michigan Trappers Association Hall of Fame for teaching children how to set traps, skin animals and handle pelts.
When he wasn’t at Post 108 or checking on his traps, Paddubny, who was a member of Thomas United Methodist Church, enjoyed spending time with his family.
‘He was good to his kids and always good to me. I’ll miss him,? said Rose, who will always remember how he gathered and cracked hickory nuts for her to make pies.
His kids will never forget the lessons he taught them, particularly when it came to honesty. ‘He always said lying is worse than stealing,? Terry said.
Paddubny is survived by his beloved wife Rose and loving children Jerry (Connie) Paddubny, Karen Crisman and Terry Paddubny.
He’s also survived by eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and his sister-in-law Sylvia Paddubny.
Paddubny’s preceded in death by his brothers Walter, William and John Paddubny.
A funeral service was held May 11 at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel in Oxford. Interment was at Oxford Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to American Legion Post 108 at 130 E. Drahner Rd.