A well known businessman and local sports figure in the South Okanagan died Thursday in hospital at Oliver.

Paul Eisenhut followed his father (Paul Sr.) in the insurance business on Main Street in Osoyoos in 1964 – a family business that continues to this day.

The Eisenhuts were contributors to the Osoyoos Sunbowl Arena getting it up and running in the early 70′. Paul and his three sons were involved in hockey and fastball. Paul coached the Eisenhut Rookies to a number of league championships.

Doug Eisenhut went on to take over the business, Neil had a short stint in the 1992 season with the Vancouver Canucks and later with the Calgary Flames.

Sons Gary, Neil and Doug describe their father as a generous man with a big heart

Paul was 83 and lost a battle to cancer.

Thanks to Dennis Walker www.socountry.ca

Information below from the Osoyoos Indian Band

In 1960, Paul Eisenhut Sr., Don Coy and Paul Eisenhut Jr. began working on a lease with the Osoyoos Indian Band. The Chief at the time was Chief Manual Louie. Working with Chief Manual Louie, the Dept. of Indian Affairs, Dave Pugh (the local M.P. at the time), and still a member of the course, and the Band Members, a lease was finally secured in March of 1961. The term of the lease was 40 years. At this time, two other investors were added to the consortium; Fred Tomlin and Cecil Dugan.

The original concept was for an 18 hole golf course, a Motel at Tuc el Nuit Lake and a campground. There were no plans for a Mobile Home Park in the original concept. The original lease compromised 95 acres which included the beach property and the present Mobile Home Park. At this time the Oroville Golf Course had just been built the year before, Fairview Mountain was just a rough 9-hole track with sand greens, and the Osoyoos Golf Course didn’t even exist.

The original golf course plans were drawn up by Paul Eisenhut Jr. He made nine different variations on the design until he came up with what the final design of Cherry Grove ended up being. One of the main things governing the design was the cost of the irrigation system. Trying to keep the golf course condensed, working around the power lines, and not making it just a basic layout with all the fairways side by side was a challenge. Another major obstacle to overcome was the fact that Tuc el Nuit Drive, which was more of a trail at the time, came right across the golf course. The road had to be moved and rebuilt at the owner’s expense. It was eventually paved by the Government and that’s how it got to be where it is today.

On March 13, 1961, construction started on the golf course itself.