Paul Leo Shopene

Paul Leo Shopene, 89, of Erie, PA passed away on July 17, 2026, at UPMC Hamot surrounded by his family. He was born on August 25, 1936, to the late Warren and Nora (Double) Shopene in Kane, PA.

In the late 1930s, Paul moved to Erie, PA with his family, leaving the forest of Sackett, PA behind, but opening up a new world of possibilities. During his early days, he attended St. Ann’s primary school with his brother, Delbert. He attended and graduated from East High in 1955, where he wrestled, was on the track team, swam, played water polo, and was a standout utility player on the football team. On Labor Day, September 5, 1955, he played for the City Team in the Erie Lions Club Save-An-Eye All-Star football game.

Upon completing his high school education, Paul joined National Fuel for a short time before the military, serving as a mechanic in the Air Force from 1956-1960. Throughout his four years with the Air Force, he traveled and saw more of the world than many of us dream of doing. He visited France, England, Scotland, Peru, North Africa, and, the highlight, Italy, where, in 1958, he took in the Vatican City and sat within mere feet of Pope John the 23rd. He was always willing to tell a story of his days stationed in Myrtle Beach, SC amongst the other travels.

Paul returned back to Erie, PA after his military time was complete. There, he returned to his career at National Fuel, working on replacing gas lines throughout the northwestern part of Pennsylvania. It was there where his attention was caught by a young lady, Ann Holquist, after crossing his picket line while on strike. After finally getting that first date, you can say the rest is history. Paul and Ann wed on October 6, 1962, in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Erie, PA.

A few years later, Paul and Ann expanded their family, becoming parents for the first time to a son, Robert. Three years after that, their family grew once more with a second son, Richard. Raising two active boys is no small feat and Paul wanted to be there in every way possible. He helped coach his sons’ baseball teams in the Kingtown League during the spring. During the falltime, he assisted coaching football teams in the Bay City League as both boys were growing up.

Raising those two boys more than prepared Paul for his next act in life: grandpa. But not just any grandpa. To all four grandchildren, it was always Grandpa Duck. And it wasn’t just from his grandchildren. All of their friends knew him only as Grandpa Duck. Starting from early days of listening to him imitate ducks to feeding them at local parks, the nickname surely stuck. Throughout his Grandpa Duck days, Paul was more often than not attending one of his grandchildren's sporting events. And let me tell you, there were plenty of them to go around. Ranging from soccer and volleyball to baseball and basketball, there wasn’t a week he and Ann weren’t traveling to watch a game somewhere around the area.

After 40-plus years working for National Fuel, Paul enjoyed traveling with Ann on many adventures. Their travels took them to places only imaged: Alaska, Hawaii, Nova Scotia, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, NV, and Sarasota, FL. Later in life, they opted for bus tours, hitting spots like Branson, MO, Myrtle Beach, SC, Frankenmuth, MI, Lancaster, PA, and the Badlands of South Dakota. Whenever they returned from their travels, there was always a story to be told and a souvenir for everyone in the family.

The one constant throughout all of Paul’s life was his love and appreciation of the outdoors. Whether it was fishing or hunting ducks on Lake Erie, hunting grouse in Centerville, or chasing whitetails in the Allegheny National Forest, that’s where Paul truly called home. Home, originally, wasn’t too far from where he and Ann bought some property back in 1972 and placed a single-wide trailer on it that's still there today. That love of the outdoors is something he’s handed down for three generations.

Camp was a culmination of his two favorite things in life: family and the outdoors. The camp’s name is Camp PARR, representing Paul, Ann, Robert, and Richard. There wasn’t a single thing he wouldn’t do for his family, and that is a beautiful thing and something he’ll always be remembered by.

Paul was the last surviving sibling of the Shopene family, preceded in death by his parents Warren and Nora Shopene, his sister Julia Shopene Narsoviewcz, and brother Delbert J. Shopene.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 63 years, Ann (Holquist) Shopene; his two children, Robert Shopene (Michelle) and Richard Shopene (Maggie); four grandchildren: Zachary Shopene (Leah), Rachel Mauro (Michael), Emily Shopene, and Alexander Shopene; great-grandchild: Cameron Shopene; expected great-grandchild: Baby Mauro; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends may call on the family on Monday July 27th at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services, Inc. West Ridge, 3801 West 26th St., from 4pm – 7pm and are invited to attend the funeral service there on Tuesday July 28th at 2pm. Burial to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Presque Isle Partnership at www.discoverpi.com/support. Send condolences at www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.