Paul L. "Uncle Paul" Kriebel, 87, of West Freedom died early Saturday at Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Sligo, where he lived for the past several months.

Born April 13, 1918, in Perry Township, Clarion County, he was the son of Charles A. and Dada E. Horner Kriebel.

A faithful attendee of church all his life, he was a member of the Park Hill Church of God at West Freedom at the time of his passing.

In his early years, he was employed by the former Bracken Construction Co. of Sligo. He then began a 19-year career as a heavy equipment operator with the C & K Coal Co. of Clarion County. He retired in 1982 from the Glacier Mineral Corp.

He entered the Army on Feb. 19, 1943, and was honorably discharged Oct. 23, 1945, as a technician third grade. He served with the 142nd Armored Signal Co. and earned a Good Conduct Medal, the Croix de Guerre, the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque and the European-African-Middle-Eastern Service Medal with six Bronze Stars. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion in Parker.

Mr. Kriebel enjoyed gardening, caring for his home and being part of a loving family.

Surviving are a brother and his wife, Edward and Ruth Kriebel of Clarion; four sisters-in-law, Sandy Kriebel of Home, Pa., Mrs. Theda Snook McMahon of Sagertown, Betty McCall of Petrolia and Judy Botz and her husband, Ron, of Parker; three brothers-in-law and their wives, Dean and Virginia McCall of Clarion, Gerald and Joanie McCall of Knox and Joseph and Earla McCall of Parker; and a number of nieces and nephews.

His wife, Norma "Tiny" McCall Kriebel, whom he married Dec. 15, 1945, died Aug. 19, 2005. He also was preceded in death by a brother, William Kriebel.

<B>KRIEBEL</B> — Friends of Paul L. "Uncle Paul" Kriebel, who died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Park Hill Church of God, Lime Plant Road, West Freedom. Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Lonny Wolford and the church staff officiating. Burial will be at Perryville Cemetery, near Parker.Members of the VFW and American Legion will hold a memorial service at the church after the funeral service.The H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.