Paul Schierenbeck

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On Tuesday, February 16, 2016, Paul was getting ready to go to bed after a day of volunteering in middle school band classes at Roosevelt Middle School, where two of his grandchildren attend (a favorite weekly activity of his).  He and Penny were staying at their daughter and son-in-laws house to watch their grandchildren while Anne and Rudy enjoyed some time away visiting Rudy's parents in Florida.  Around 10:30 pm, Paul turned off the lights next to the stairway leading to the basement bedroom and proceeded to walk downstairs.  Unfortunately, he thought he had one more pace before the 7 stair slope began and missed the top step, falling face first down the flight onto the landing.  The impact happened so fast and hard that the top of his head crushed through the Sheetrock and baseboard knocking him out momentairely.  He broke his neck in multiple places.  He had a 4 hour surgery at Mercy hospital on Friday, February 19, to fuse the broken vertebrae (C2-T3).  His surgery was a success, however the doctor mentioned that if he would have broken one more bone further down, he would not be with us today. He received excellent care from the ICU staff at Mercy  and was transferred to Courage Kenny Rehab Facility located at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis on Thursday, February 25 to begin intensive physical therapy (3 hours a day/6 days a week). Penny has not left his side.  The love they share is truly one of a kind.  His journey to recovery will be lengthy, painful, and challenging, but he is determined.  Your love, support, prayers and well wishes have meant the world to him and Penny and his family.