Paul A. Mierke, 83, a former human resources manager at Procter & Gamble who was well known for his 20-year-long second career at the Wilmette Golf Course, died Sunday, Dec. 31, of lung cancer at home in Northbrook. Mr. Mierke graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He took college business classes and began working at Procter & Gamble before entering the Army in 1942, the same year he married his wife, Terry. He served in the medical corps administration in Europe, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. After the war, he returned to his job as an industrial engineer at Procter & Gamble, where he eventually became a manager in the human resources department. He retired in 1980 after 43 years and began working at the Wilmette Golf Course. “That was the love of his life,” his wife said. “He wanted to be outdoors with people. He wanted to be with happy people.” His wife said her husband never missed a day at the course, where he worked his way up from ranger to starter, and finished the last season despite his illness. He recently received about 150 get-well cards from people affiliated with the course. His daughter Gail Howden said her father, a 32-year Northbrook resident, was an outgoing man who easily made friends with people of all ages and loved to tease them. “He was a wonderful man,” his daughter said. “He really cared about people and really enjoyed people.” In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Mierke is survived by another daughter, Kimberly Stack; two sisters, Ruth Friend and Muriel Mierke; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Hanekamp Funeral Home, 385 Waukegan Rd., Northbrook. A service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in Grace Lutheran Church, 2245 Walters Ave., Northbrook.
