Paul Spaniola celebrated his 100th birthday on Jan. 29. Paul is the founder of Paul's Pipe shop in downtown Flint which has been open 84 years. He also is a 6-time world champion in pipe smoking. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

FLINT, MI--Paul Spaniola, who opened the Flint icon Paul's Pipe Shop, died today in his home surrounded by family. He was 100.

Funeral details have not yet been announced.

Family members gathered at the pipe shop to swap stories and remember Spaniola, who had about 200 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. They remembered him as a hard-working man who was always ready with a joke.

Spaniola went into business at 15 years old opening a pool hall. Two years later, in 1930, he opened Paul's Tavern and Pipe Shop in Swartz Creek, the business that would later move to downtown Flint and be known throughout the pipe-smoking community across the globe.

(For a story on Spaniola's 100th birthday, read

.)

For a full story on Paul Spaniola, check back later to mlive.com/flint.