Fr. Paul Gerald Manderfield

Paul Gerald Manderfield was born on July 4, 1932, in Houghton to John Manderfield and Katherine (Schaafs). Paul went to the St. Ignatius School and then to Houghton High School. He attended St. John’s seminary in Plymouth, Michigan.

He was ordained into the priesthood at St. Peter’s in Marquette in 1960. Fr. Paul became interested in missionary work and took assignments throughout Central America during his career. He started out training in Mexico, then went to the Dominican Republic. He spent 20 years in Panama and started a mission there.

His continuing education took him to Loyola University of Chicago and to Marburg, Germany. He excelled in languages and spoke fluent English, Spanish, German, French and even learned some Anishinaabemowin(Ojibwe). Fr. Paul also studied classical Greek and Latin. Fr. Paul was always very skilled at helping out people with organizing missions and projects.

Back in the Upper Peninsula, Fr. Paul was a parish priest in Baraga, Sault Ste. Marie, and Ironwood. He returned to Central America in 2000 and started a mission in Managua, Nicaragua. Fr. Paul assisted many refugees moving through Central America and coming to the United States. He continued to travel back and forth between Managua and the Upper Peninsula until his retirement, spending most of that time in Nicaragua.

He returned to the U.P. and was a parish priest at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet for two years. After his retirement, he continued to fill in at varius churches around the U.P. where needed for vacations, funerals, weddings and holidays.

Fr. Paul was predeceased by his parents John and Katherine. He was the last of 10 siblings. Preceeding him in death were Servie, Edmond, Eva(Steinmetz), Lucille (Lenz), Martin, Gertrude (Sherbarth), John, Francis and David. He is survived by numerous nephews, nieces and their families spread across the country including Rick, Pete, Beth, Jerry, Peter, Tom, Joan, Paul, Steve, Carolyn and Gail and the thousands of people that he has helped along the way in his travels and missions including Lawrence Ruiz H. Jesus and Wallace. He touched the lives of so many people with his endless care and giving.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 21, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Houghton with visitation at 10 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. There will be a luncheon to follow. Spring burial will be at the family plot in Forest Hill Cemetery, Houghton. Ryan Funeral Home is serving the family.