Michael Paul Varble
July 14, 1942 ~ August 14, 2023 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Obituary
Michael Paul Varble was born July 14, 1942 and left us at age 81 on August 14, 2023. He was known by all as a kind and gentle soul, a steadfast, warm, loyal, and caring person, a true mensch. He will be forever missed by his wife Bobbie (née Roberta Freeman) his two sons Ben (Michelle) of Elmhurst, IL, and Jon of Solon, OH his grandchildren Kyla, Camryn, Audriana, and Paxton, and his sister Mary Wahlmark (Curt) of Rockford, IL.
Mike grew up in East Cleveland, OH, where his father (Roscoe) was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother (Carolyn) was a teacher, and he graduated from Shaw High School in 1960. He enrolled at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, to participate in its renowned vocal music program, but unsure of his vocational goals, he left school, joined the Teamsters, and drove a Pepsi delivery truck. He returned to Allegheny in 1964 (the year Bobbie started) to become a Social Studies educator. By this time, Mike knew his heart well— he knew he couldn’t fight in the Vietnam War, he knew he wanted to work with children, and he knew he wanted to spend his life with Bobbie. They were married in 1968, thirteen days after her graduation, and marked their 55th anniversary this year.
As quiet and unassuming as Mike presented himself, he was a progressive rebel in many ways. He chose to marry outside his original faith, and, as was thought necessary in those days, became a Jew by choice before his marriage to Bobbie. Their wedding ceremony was co-officiated by a rabbi and Mike’s liberal father, so unusual for its time that it was the subject of newspaper articles. And while others in the late sixties and seventies were being pushed into business careers with monetary rewards, Mike took his Master’s Degree in Education and Counseling, and until retirement, worked at Westlake’s Lee Burneson Middle School as a teacher, Association President, counselor, and assistant principal. He finished his career there in a position created just for him, Dean of Students. Along the way, he was awarded a one-year sabbatical to help develop the PACE Association, a community-based education support group. Also, in 1984, Mike was honored by the State of Ohio with a district Teacher of the Year award, another proud professional accomplishment. After his retirement from Westlake, he counseled at Trinity High School and Hillside Middle School in Parma. He loved counseling, he loved kids, and he believed in public education.
Among his other loves was Mike’s passion for singing. He studied under Morten Luvaas while in college, and over the following years sang in a number of choral groups, including the West Shore Chorale, the Cleveland Choral Union, the Chagrin Valley Choral Union, the Choral Arts Society, the Western Reserve Chorale, the Cleveland Orchestra Summer Chorus, and Good Company. When his advancing cognitive impairment made it impossible to read or learn new music, he was welcomed into the Solon Act II Singers where he made up his own harmonies.
Always driven by his considerate and helpful nature, Mike took on the role of primary parent when Bobbie opened her own business, and gave her thousands of hours of technical and emotional support in her duties as an officer of the local Jewish Secular Community and the national and international organizations with which it affiliated. He stayed home with the kids as she traveled all over the world for meetings, he helped take care of her sick and failing relatives, willingly made any sacrifices necessary to be of service, and never complained.
A devoted father, Mike personally embraced his children’s hobbies and athletic pursuits. When they took up baseball, Mike successfully coached their little league teams. He learned how to ski and even sponsored Lee Burneson’s ski club so that he could take his family on multiple ski trips to Pennsylvania and New York. Along with Bobbie, Mike was a great provider affording his children the education and experiences, such as memorable family vacations and international travel opportunities, that they have grown to appreciate from a loving father.
After retiring at 65, Mike was finally free to do as he had always wished. He and Bobbie traveled extensively throughout the U.S. as well as internationally, including Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand, the Far East, and Israel. Mike also exercised his prodigious intelligence studying and playing bridge, for which he had demonstrated genuine skills (undoubtedly acquired during many hours spent at the Allegheny College Student Union instead of attending classes), so some of their trips were to tournaments where they almost achieved Life Master status before his condition made continuing unfeasible.
Mike had a delightful sense of whimsy, and much enjoyed wordplay. He punned incessantly, deliberately looked for ways to use the word “peradventure” instead of perhaps, referred to dinner meat as “roast beast,” and expressed his disapproval of something by invoking the term “marginal.” He was witty, but never acerbic, insulting, or judgmental. Everyone who ever met him sensed the goodness in his heart, and he will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s honor may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Trees for Israel. The family will receive guests in their home at 5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway, Solon, OH from 1:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday August 26 and Sunday August 27. A brief Service of Remembrance will take place at 4:00pm on Saturday August 26, and will be available later on the JSC website. Anyone wishing to make remarks or contribute to the food for the event may contact Bobbie at (440) 498-4747.
Gathering
Residence
Saturday, August 26, 2023
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
Service
Residence
Saturday, August 26, 2023
4:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
Gathering
Residence
Sunday, August 27, 2023
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
Mike grew up in East Cleveland, OH, where his father (Roscoe) was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother (Carolyn) was a teacher, and he graduated from Shaw High School in 1960. He enrolled at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, to participate in its renowned vocal music program, but unsure of his vocational goals, he left school, joined the Teamsters, and drove a Pepsi delivery truck. He returned to Allegheny in 1964 (the year Bobbie started) to become a Social Studies educator. By this time, Mike knew his heart well— he knew he couldn’t fight in the Vietnam War, he knew he wanted to work with children, and he knew he wanted to spend his life with Bobbie. They were married in 1968, thirteen days after her graduation, and marked their 55th anniversary this year.
As quiet and unassuming as Mike presented himself, he was a progressive rebel in many ways. He chose to marry outside his original faith, and, as was thought necessary in those days, became a Jew by choice before his marriage to Bobbie. Their wedding ceremony was co-officiated by a rabbi and Mike’s liberal father, so unusual for its time that it was the subject of newspaper articles. And while others in the late sixties and seventies were being pushed into business careers with monetary rewards, Mike took his Master’s Degree in Education and Counseling, and until retirement, worked at Westlake’s Lee Burneson Middle School as a teacher, Association President, counselor, and assistant principal. He finished his career there in a position created just for him, Dean of Students. Along the way, he was awarded a one-year sabbatical to help develop the PACE Association, a community-based education support group. Also, in 1984, Mike was honored by the State of Ohio with a district Teacher of the Year award, another proud professional accomplishment. After his retirement from Westlake, he counseled at Trinity High School and Hillside Middle School in Parma. He loved counseling, he loved kids, and he believed in public education.
Among his other loves was Mike’s passion for singing. He studied under Morten Luvaas while in college, and over the following years sang in a number of choral groups, including the West Shore Chorale, the Cleveland Choral Union, the Chagrin Valley Choral Union, the Choral Arts Society, the Western Reserve Chorale, the Cleveland Orchestra Summer Chorus, and Good Company. When his advancing cognitive impairment made it impossible to read or learn new music, he was welcomed into the Solon Act II Singers where he made up his own harmonies.
Always driven by his considerate and helpful nature, Mike took on the role of primary parent when Bobbie opened her own business, and gave her thousands of hours of technical and emotional support in her duties as an officer of the local Jewish Secular Community and the national and international organizations with which it affiliated. He stayed home with the kids as she traveled all over the world for meetings, he helped take care of her sick and failing relatives, willingly made any sacrifices necessary to be of service, and never complained.
A devoted father, Mike personally embraced his children’s hobbies and athletic pursuits. When they took up baseball, Mike successfully coached their little league teams. He learned how to ski and even sponsored Lee Burneson’s ski club so that he could take his family on multiple ski trips to Pennsylvania and New York. Along with Bobbie, Mike was a great provider affording his children the education and experiences, such as memorable family vacations and international travel opportunities, that they have grown to appreciate from a loving father.
After retiring at 65, Mike was finally free to do as he had always wished. He and Bobbie traveled extensively throughout the U.S. as well as internationally, including Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand, the Far East, and Israel. Mike also exercised his prodigious intelligence studying and playing bridge, for which he had demonstrated genuine skills (undoubtedly acquired during many hours spent at the Allegheny College Student Union instead of attending classes), so some of their trips were to tournaments where they almost achieved Life Master status before his condition made continuing unfeasible.
Mike had a delightful sense of whimsy, and much enjoyed wordplay. He punned incessantly, deliberately looked for ways to use the word “peradventure” instead of perhaps, referred to dinner meat as “roast beast,” and expressed his disapproval of something by invoking the term “marginal.” He was witty, but never acerbic, insulting, or judgmental. Everyone who ever met him sensed the goodness in his heart, and he will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s honor may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Trees for Israel. The family will receive guests in their home at 5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway, Solon, OH from 1:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday August 26 and Sunday August 27. A brief Service of Remembrance will take place at 4:00pm on Saturday August 26, and will be available later on the JSC website. Anyone wishing to make remarks or contribute to the food for the event may contact Bobbie at (440) 498-4747.
Gathering
Residence
Saturday, August 26, 2023
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
Service
Residence
Saturday, August 26, 2023
4:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
Gathering
Residence
Sunday, August 27, 2023
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
5600 A Emerald Ridge Parkway
Solon, Ohio 44139
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