Paul 'Blackie' Espinosa

Paul Richard “Blackie” Espinosa Jr., 91, of Mason City, died Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Monday, December 31, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. Duane Miller officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be directed to the Mason City Education Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church, or Hospice of North Iowa. Paul “Blackie” Espinosa was born March 5, 1921 in Mason City to Paul and Petra (Olvera) Espinosa. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1940. As a sophomore he was a member of the State Championship Baseball Team for his beloved coach, Clayton (Chick) Sutherland. In his junior year, he hit a homerun and collapsed his lung, but made it to home plate. After graduation, he returned to play in the Industrial League and for the Mason City Braves. He played at the new Roosevelt Stadium. Then he played and managed fast pitch softball for various teams and in the church league for Trinity Lutheran Church. He ended his career playing slow pitch softball and pitched a no-hitter at age 50 helping his team with the state tournament and to the Nationals. A special treat was having his son, Paul play first base on that team. He was inducted into the Iowa State Softball Hall of Fame in 1979 and later the River City Hall of Fame. After his playing days were over, he coached Babe Ruth League Baseball and was proud that his team won the city championship. Blackie was united in marriage to Mavis Holt of Ottosen on August 3, 1943. They were the parents of 6 children: Sherry (Gordon) Rundquist of Iowa City, Paul (deceased) (Mary), Pamela (Loyd) McFarland of Fresno, California, Debra (deceased), Ann of Ames, and Peter (Kari) of Edina, Minnesota. They have 7 grandchildren, Matthew Rundquist (deceased), Paul Rundquist of Mount Pleasant, Nathan (Amber) Espinosa of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Jennifer (John) Whyte of Omaha, Nebraska, Joshua of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Justin and Rachel Espinosa of Edina, Minnesota. He has 9 great grandchildren, April, Kodi, Paul, and Katlyn Rundquist, Carver, Zachary, and Andrew Espinosa, Alexis and Alison Whyte. Blackie served on the Board of Deacons and Stewardship Committee at Trinity Lutheran Church, United Way, Memorial Park Hospital and was a member of Rotary. He taught Sunday School and was Sunday School Superintendent and sang in the choir. He was the Culligan Man for 50 years starting as a route man, then service manager and then manager. He was a fast talking, super salesman who helped build the company. He was a flag flying proud American with a deep faith in God who loved Mason City and the people living here and the surrounding towns and farms. He was proud of his wife, family, flower garden, and his yard. For several years he was a motivational speaker at area churches and businesses giving testimonials about his life and how great life was and what a wonderful country we live in. He was an enthusiastic supporter of all the good things in life. He spent his retirement years visiting friends and former customers in nursing homes. Blackie is survived by his wife, Mavis; 3 daughters, 1 son, 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 1 brother, Lawrence (Gladys) Espinosa of Mason City; 2 sisters, Della (Jerome) Dix of Concord, California, Susan Rubalcava of Mason City; many nieces and nephews. Blackie was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Debra; son, Paul; grandson, Matthew; 8 brothers and sisters.

Mason City Education Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church, or Hospice of North Iowa