Paul Robert Espe, 79, of Quincy, Ill., died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Blessing Hospital.

Paul was born Oct. 13, 1933, in Hayfield, Minn., the eighth child of Nels and Bessie Howell Espe. He married Helen Josephine Broskoff on Jan. 3, 1958. She survives.

Paul was a 1952 graduate of Austin High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1956, where he was stationed in Germany. Paul worked at Marigold Dairy until 1968 and Ankeny Dairy until 1977 when he and his wife bought the Yucatan Supper Club in Yucatan, Minn. They sold the club in 1989 and moved to Spring Grove where they bought a Victorian home and made it into a bed and breakfast. Paul also worked at Northern Engraving. While living at Austin, Paul was a deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, PTA president, Cub Scout master and coach to many.

The Espes moved to Quincy in 2004 and he became a QPS school bus rider. His kids on the bus loved him and the feeling was mutual. He was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church. A man with a generous, loving heart, bestowed life’s greatest gift on his children and grandchildren by being an exemplary model of integrity, hard work, humor, devotion to family, and unconditional love. Paul’s incredible legacy will live on forever in the lives of all he touched.

Survivors also include three children, Scott Espe, Andre (David) Landsom, both of Quincy, and Brian (Pauline) Espe of Rushford, Minn.; six grandchildren, Nicholas and John Espe of Arlington, Va., Paul and Julian Landsom, both of Quincy, Morgan Decker and Madisen Espe, both of Green Bay, Wis.; a great-grandchild, Owen Landsom of Quincy; two sisters, Evangeline Reimann of Anoka, Minn., and Alice (Harold) Wiste of Adams, Minn.; three brothers-in-law, Reese Butterfield, McIntire, Iowa, Robert (Sherry) Broskoff, Albert Lea, Minn., and Frank (Lahn) Broskoff, Houston, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Ruth (Jack) Beighley, Salem, Ore., Jeanne (Charles) Huff, Brooklyn Center, Minn., Janith Espe, Austin; 44 nieces and nephews; many great- and great-great- nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; five brothers; one daughter-in-law, Staci Decker Espe; two brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law; and two nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 10 at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with the Rev. Kevin McGinnis officiating. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery with Austin Post No. 91, American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home in Quincy and on Monday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. Memorials are preferred to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.