Paul Woronecki Obituary

Paul Peter Woronecki II

Aug 23, 1936 - Feb 14, 2026

Milan

Paul Peter Woronecki II, 89, of Milan, passed away Saturday, February 14, 2026, at New Life Hospice following a brief illness.

He was born August 23, 1936, in Hartford, Connecticut, and had been a resident of Milan for the past 35 years, moving from Sandusky. Prior to settling in Milan, Paul lived and worked in Colorado, California, and Cali, Colombia, South America, where he conducted research on vampire bats and was featured in a documentary while serving with the Department of Agriculture.

Paul was a graduate of the University of Connecticut and earned his master's degree in Wildlife Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. He dedicated 32 years of service as a research biologist with the Denver Wildlife Research Center for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retiring in 1995. During his years with the Department of Agriculture, he wrote and published 34 articles. Throughout his career, he worked with several divisions, including the Denver Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development's Animal Damage Control program. In retirement, Paul and his wife, Margo, managed Groff Funeral Home in Milan.

A devoted member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Milan, Paul served on the Cemetery Board and was active as a lay distributor and lector. He was formerly a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sandusky. Paul was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he achieved the rank of Third Degree Knight, The Wildlife Society, the National Animal Damage Control Association, Ducks Unlimited, and the Erie County Conservation League, Inc. He served as a rain reporter for the State of Ohio, and his home was selected as a bluebird watch house.

A true outdoorsman, Paul enjoyed duck hunting, deer hunting, fishing, and birdwatching. He loved spending time with his family, especially his cherished grandsons.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Margaret "Margo" (nee Woval) Woronecki; daughters, Theresa (Steven) Gerold of Sandusky and Margo Ann (Troy) Shultz of Vermilion; grandchildren, Paul (Raquel) Woronecki, Ryan (Lauren Halloran) Gerold, Shawn Gerold, Cody Shultz, and Mason Shultz; brother, David (Sue) Woronecki of Melbourne, Florida; his favorite niece, Margaret (Doug) Ortyl-Robar of Dudley, Massachusetts; and two nephews, Mark Ortyl of Yakima, Washington, and Rick Ortyl of Ellington, Connecticut.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Peter and Stella (nee Balkun) Woronecki; his son, Paul P. Woronecki III, in 1990; and his sister, Ann Ortyl.

The family will receive friends from 100 a.m. until time of prayer service at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Groff Funeral Home, Milan, 1 South Main Street, Milan, Ohio 44846. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 1 p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 145 Center Street, Milan, Ohio 44846. Inurnment will take place at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, Milan, at a later date.

Memorial contribu-tions may be made to St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 145 Center Street, Milan, Ohio 44846, or Mercy Health New Life Hospice by Compassus, 3500 Kolbe Road, Lorain, Ohio 44053.

The Woronecki family would like to thank New Life Hospice for their kind and compassionate care.

Online condolences may be shared at www.riddlefuneralhome.com