We lost one of our Treasured Gems with the passing of Paul Aken on September 6th. Paul was one of the best among all of us passionate printers in the APA… a friend, a printer, a collector, a teacher, a mentor and an apostle of all things printing. To have known Paul was to have a very special friend; for those of us fortunate members, that meant decades of friendship, laughs and the wonderful booming sound of Paul’s distinctive voice!

A visit to his Platen Press Museum in Zion, Illinois, is like walking into King Tut’s tomb! Treasures packed into every inch of space, each with a story quickly relayed by Paul. He was a long-standing and proud member of the professional industry group, The Printing House Craftsmen, something we had in common. Paul’s professional career as a very dedicated high school printing shop teacher was evident in how he always gave away his knowledge to so many of our members, especially the younger newbies.

At the family’s request, you can honor Paul with a donation in support of the UW Stout Graphic Communications Program: www.uwstout.edu/support-us-stout-graphic. And if you have a favorite story of Paul, write it on a letterpress postcard and mail it to Irene Aken who attended so many of our Wayzgooses. She would love it!

Paul, you are one Printer’s Devil that will be missed down here but certainly enjoyed in heaven!

— Mark Barbour
2024 APA President

Paul Henry Aken, of Beach Park, Illinois, passed away September 6, 2024 in Waukegan, Illinois. He was born January 16, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to parents Paul and Regina Aken.

Paul grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has also previously lived in Parma, Ohio and Waukegan, Illinois before settling in Beach Park, Illinois for the last 56 years. Paul married his wife, Irene Aken June 5, 1965 in Mauston, Wisconsin.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a Bachelors and then a Masters Degree. Paul was employed at the Waukegan School District from 1967 until 1977 before starting his career of 28 years at the Lake County Area Vocational Center from 1977 until his retirement in 2005. Paul was a proud member of the Amalgamated Printer’s Association, the Craftsman’s Club, the Mid-west Tool Collectors Association, and the Teacher’s Union.

Paul was incredibly proud of his museum, The Platen Press in Zion, Illinois. He loved teaching, bowling, playing softball, and square dancing from 1989 to the 2010’s. He also coached Girls Little League, the Aken’s Angels, and received numerous awards over the years. Paul has a strong faith background. He was an active member of Our Lady of Humility for many years.

Paul is survived by his wife, Irene Aken; daughters, Jeanne’ Aken and Rita Hickman; sister Pat (Sharon) Aken; sister-in-laws, Jan (Mike) Aken, Judy (Jim) Baird, and Mae (Borden) Buelow; brother-in-law, Bud (Mary) Schultz; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and thousands of students whose lives he touched.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Regina Aken; brother, Michael Aken; sister, Adele Ewing; James Benard (JB) Aken; and brother-in-law, Borden Buelow.

In lieu of flowers please donate in support of the UW Stout Graphic Communications Program at https://www.uwstout.edu/support-uw-stout-graphic-communications

Registration to the 2024 Capital Wayzgoose will be closing at 11:59 PM EDT on Wednesday, June 5th.

If you have not yet registered and wish to attend, you need to make your reservations now.
Please CLICK HERE to go directly to the online registration form for the 2024 APA Capital Wayzgoose.

If you need to make any additions, like adding a Thursday workshop to
your existing reservations, that needs to be done by the same deadline.
Please CLICK HERE to make additions to an existing reservation.

James Arthur Hedges “Jim”, 85, of Big Cove Tannery, Pennsylvania, passed away March 4, 2024, at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, surrounded by his family. He was born May 10, 1938 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, to Robert and Mary Margaret (Ayres) Hedges. Jim graduated from Citi High School in Iowa City in 1956, State University of Iowa in 1960 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, and University of Maryland in 1972 with a Master’s degree in Geography. He retired from the U.S. Marine band in 1980 after 20 of service as a tuba player. Jim married Carolyn Dick on June 16, 1990 in Hancock, Maryland.

Jim built his own house in Fulton County in the 1970s. After retirement, he worked part-time at Keystone Printing and The Fulton County News. Jim was an avid printer and ran his own business called Camel Press. He also volunteered as a printer at Old Bedford Village.

Jim was a long-time member of the Prohibition Party and ran for United States President in the 2016 Presidential Election. He was on three state ballots and received approximately 5,500 votes. He was a member of the National Speleological Society and many other organizations, and he had hobbies such as cave geology, writing, volunteering in 4H, and playing in bands in Mercersburg, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Hagerstown, or wherever he could find them. Jim also had a great love for animals.

Jim is survived by his wife of 34 years Carolyn, step-children whom he considered his children Tony Fisher-Howell (and Ron) of Hagerstown, Kelly Howell of McConnellsburg, and Susanne Ketterman (and Todd) of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, adopted daughter Karen, grandchildren Tyler Bohrer, Jay Howell, and Sofia Fisher-Howell, and great grandchildren Avarie, Weston, Bryson, Jackson, and Gracie. He is also survived by siblings Ben Hedges and George Hedges (and Maggie), sister-in-law Kathy, niece Amy Newlin (and Barry), and other nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Sally and brother Alan.

A celebration-of-life meal will be held on Saturday, March 16, at 3:00PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 15 Randolph Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, sympathy cards and notes may be sent to Carolyn Hedges, PO Box 212, Needmore, Pennsylvania 17238. The family has entrusted Jim’s care to Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home in McConnellsburg, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.kelso-corneliusfuneralhome.com.

Posted online on March 06, 2024

Jim was an APA Member from 1987 through 2021.
He remained with the group as a Tramp Printer until his death.

To round out the 2024 Membership Roster, please note the following changes:

#865: John Hunt, #980: Steven Pammer and #984: Brent Comstock
have resigned their memberships for at least this year..

To fill out our membership at 150 members, let’s welcome our new members:

Plus, one reinstated member:

#943: Ethan Lipton
Venice, California