Harold Otto Paul "Hop" Pinther

Harold Otto Paul “HOP” Pinther Jr., entered his eternal resting place on May 7, 2012, at the age of 87, at his daughter’s home in Winter Haven.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn (Evensen) Pinther of Lake Wales, FL; his son, Paul Pinther III (Ann) of Lower Gwynedd, PA; son, Evan Pinther (Margaret) of Lake Wales, FL; daughter, Valla Dana Treuman (Richard) of Winter Haven, FL; his grandchildren Wolfgang Pinther of Miami, FL, Evan Pinther II (Kala) of Cape Coral, FL, Dana Klink (David) of Toms River, NJ, Paul Pinther IV (Amy) of Columbia, MD, Jens Pinther of Santa Cruz, CA, Jorn Richels of Lake Wales, FL and Dana Fotiades of Lake Wales, FL. He was also blessed with two great-grand children Dylan Marie Klink, age 3, and Eva Helen Pinther, age 3 weeks.

Hop was born in Madison, WI to the late Harold Otto Paul Pinther Sr. and Marguerite Conrad Dana Pinther. He was a leader and an athlete. He was the head wrestling coach at Eastern Illinois University for 25 years. In his 32 years of service as a college professor, he inspired thousands of young people by sharing life philosophies for a productive and contented life. He was called into the Athletic Hall of Fame for Eastern Illinois University in 1979, and later into the Athletic Hall of Fame for the State of Illinois by his former wrestlers, many of whom became wrestling coaches, as did their own sons.

Hop also served his country with distinction, in the US Armed Forces, seeing action in the European theatre in World War II. During his retirement years in Lake Wales, Hop enjoyed his family, playing softball, tennis and bridge, as well as swimming, participating in the Polk Senior Olympics for many years and maintaining his property on Starr Lake in Lake Wales.

His generosity, love of nature, athletic abilities, friendly demeanor, joyful spirit and great sense of humor will be greatly missed by his family and friends throughout the United States and Canada.

Hop’s daughter, Valla, and her husband, Richard, are planning a small Celebration of Life, to honor and say, “Until we meet again!” in early June.