The New York Yankees saw enough promise in hurler Paul W. Poerschke to recruit him alongside brothers Hank and Ed Sauer in Pittsburgh in the late 1930s, his daughter said. The club sent him to Elon College in North Carolina to groom him for a professional career.

While the Sauer brothers went on to successful big league careers, an arm injury ended Mr. Poerschke's dreams. Instead, he went on to serve in the Army as a teletype operator in India during World War II, Barbara Poerschke Hoellerman said.

In 1942, Poerschke wrote to his sister, Charlotte, saying he was pleased her son Paul was learning the love of baseball.

“ ‘Maybe he can achieve the dream I always had hoped for,' ” Hoellerman said the letter concluded.

Paul W. Poerschke, of Ross, died Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, in his home after battling cancer. He was 96.

Mr. Poerschke was the owner and operator of Poe Supply Co., in which he sold items to area hardware stores for nearly 50 years.

“He was probably the most honest person I've ever met. He never lied, he was humble, hardworking, kind and sacrificed everything,” Hoellerman said.

Though Mr. Poerschke's family said it was a struggle with the home-based business on occasion, his children never went without.

“His shoes might have duct tape and his shirts might have holes, but we had everything we wanted,” Hoellerman said.

Upon the passing of Arvella, his wife of 61 years, in 2010, the family searched for something to keep Mr. Poerschke active but wouldn't be too tasking.

They found a quilting group in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ross, where women make nearly 200 quilts a year to send to Third World countries. Mr. Poerschke was the only male member of the group. As pattern maker, he helped trace and cut squares, even taking work home with him.

“That was his way of helping someone else,” Hoellerman said. “He lived for that.”

Mr. Poerschke was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Hermine Poerschke; his wife, Arvella; and siblings Dorathea, Charlotte, Adele, Bertha and Carl.

In addition to his daughter, Barbara of Pine, he is survived by his son, the Rev. Paul. D. Poerschke of Ligonier; daughter Nancy A. Shea of Columbia, Md.; and nine grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Simons Funeral Home, 7720 Perry Highway, Ross. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 920 Perry Highway, Ross.

Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.

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