Given that we had no competition for any of the offices and positions for the next board, we are happy to announce and welcome our 2025–2026 APA Board that will be taking the helm of our great organization. In long-standing tradition, there will be a peaceful transfer of power on January 1, 2025.

Many thanks to the current leadership who has guided the organization through recent years and kept us in good shape both with member activity and participation, but also in a sound financial position.

The new Board to lead our sometimes unruly but always creative bunch of letterpress printers is as follows:

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