Husband, son, brother, uncle, friend, co-worker, war hero and, above all, a mentor to many and community-builder to the core, Paul passed from being here with all of us to being all around us on Wednesday, May 14, following a life well-lived but shortened by ALS.

With his passing at 78, Paul joined his parents Gilbert and Mary (Zeise) Willems, his big brother Lee, his spouse's parents Clarence and Violet (Crevcoure) Delaney, her brother Robert and her sister Phyllis Delaney-Moes – and his rock band pals Phil Cornelisen, Jim Morrison, Bob Allard, Eddie Farah and Bob Riedy – in the presence of The Great Spirit.

Paul was the third after Lee and Dan to join the family on Nov. 15, 1946, in Oconto Falls, where the family owned and operated a flower shop until 1954 when his father took a job at Northwest Engineering in Green Bay. The family called their place on Dousman Street home for over 50 years. Sisters Mary and Barb and brother Dave were added to make it six siblings, plus mom and dad.

He attended St. Patrick Grade School where he played football and basketball in addition to meeting his eventual bride, Barbara Delaney, in 7th grade in 1958. Paul graduated from Premontre High School in 1964, as he would say, "without honors." He also met his lifelong best friend Phil at St. Pat's. Paul and Phil formed the popular local rock band The Centurys in 1961, joined by Dave Pilz, Donnie Cornell and Jim Morrison. Paul subsequently joined The Corals with band mates Bob Riedy, Eddie Farah and Bob Allard before taking to the road with Denny, Steve, Phil and Angel as Angel and the Soul Brothers, a touring blues and soul band.

The U.S. Army put an end to his rock 'n' roll journey with a draft call in April of 1966. After completing basic and advanced training, he attended Artillery Officer Candidate School, graduating as a Second Lieutenant in March 1967 and was promptly sent to Germany. Paul returned briefly in April 1968 to marry his grade school sweetheart Barbara before returning together to Germany until Paul was ordered to Vietnam after being promoted to Captain – less than two years into his service. During his 11-month tour of combat, he commanded an artillery battery in areas north and west of Saigon (The Iron Triangle) at four separate fire support bases, including his final base called FSB Jerri where Paul was awarded his 3rd Bronze Star, this final one for valor for support in the base defense directing close firing just outside the perimeter during a fierce ground assault. Paul now joins PFC Gordon Norman, the only man killed in action under his command in Vietnam.

Paul returned to Green Bay and his bride Barbara in March of 1970 and attended UW-Green Bay, graduating in 1975. He began his career in public/community service and politics in 1972 with his campaign for Green Bay City Council, losing to his eventual friend Eddie Bodart by 12 votes. That didn't deter him, and he was elected to City Council and County Board in 1976. He served as mayoral assistant to Sam Halloin and Mike Monfils and was passionate about his municipal roles and his involvement in neighborhood organizations in Green Bay. He was a believer in building from the ground up.

His career in politics included managing successful campaigns for State Rep Sharon Metz and Green Bay Mayor Mike Monfils in 1974 and 1975, respectfully, and his own bid for mayor in 1979. His involvement in national politics included serving as chair of the 8th District Democratic Party for five years and managing congressional campaigns for Mike Monfils and Ruth Clusen. Paul ran for congress himself in 1984 and 1986. He was honored with the Democratic Party's lifetime achievement award and was a proud social liberal and fiscal moderate. He was a proud union supporter and believed that people and the economy prospered best by investing from the bottom up.

Paul began his small business career when he purchased a deteriorating laundromat just a few houses away from their home on Stuart Street. He closed the doors on the day he bought it and proceeded to revamp the space while quickly learning to repair all the washers and dryers, reopening 72 hours later with all the machines working. That was typical Paul. He was always up for a challenge and was a roll-up-your-sleeves and get-the-job-done guy, whether it was a fence that needed building or a machine that needed repairing or an important proposal that needed writing. He always seemed to have the right know-how for the task at hand.

From 1989 to 1996, Paul worked in the private sector consulting for and with Native American Tribes in the casino and bingo gaming business, learning and mentoring all at the same time and building great working relationships and friendships.

He returned to public service in 1996 when he was appointed to be Congressman Jay Johnson's District Director for the district's home office. He was forever grateful for the honor of officially serving the people of the 8th District in this important capacity.

After semi-retiring in 1999, Paul agreed to help his brother Dave with a single community project in Appleton, but before long, he was back at it, serving as a business partner with Willems Marketing & Events, Inc., Money Saver Magazine and Morrison Building LLC – an entrepreneurial partnership that continued for 16 years and underscored the saying, "so much for early retirement." His work in tandem with Dave in the Fox Cities included notable community endeavors and high-profile client projects, culminating with his role in co-producing the inaugural Mile of Music in Downtown Appleton in 2013 and helping launch the popular original music movement that has become a national brand. His eventual "early retirement" occurred in 2017 at age 71, though he continued to mentor those around him, often by text and email, right up to the final week of his ALS journey.

Throughout his life, Paul was a paramount strategist and planner, innovative thinker and consummate small business driver. He liked to refer to himself as "a jack of all trades and master of some." He also used his humor and quick wit for many situations, speeches, meetings and water cooler discussions, but was not above stealing and incorporating a good line. One of his favorites was from his good friend and colleague, Keith Vanden Avond, with Paul often telling folks who he had helped, "It's the least I can do, and I always do the least I can do."

Though Paul and Barbara did not have children, they did have a special connection to their step-niece, Jessica Rennells (Erhart). Paul and Jess shared a love for music and art and she became a big part of his story from the moment he heard her singing acapella at his sister Barb's wedding to Cecil, Jess's dad. The bond was strong and Paul and Jess will always be together in spirit as family, friends and mentor/mentee.

Paul didn't just make life better for those in his circle, especially his younger siblings, he made life easier. His knowledge, handiness, resourcefulness, problem-solving and willingness to help were cherished by all of us and will be greatly missed.

Lots of family and friends will carry forward Paul's legacy of mentorship. They include wife Barbara; siblings Dan (Mary Lou), Mary, Barb (Cecil) and Dave (Mary); sisters-in-law Rogene and Barb; former brother-in-law Dave Lannoye and former sister-in-law Pat; plus many nieces and nephews, bandmates and close friends, including Dave Davis, Jack LeDuc, Bob Riordan; and his "Kavarna family."

Paul sends a special thank you to his life partner, Barbara, for her love, support and care as well as a special forever hug to the best dog ever, Hope. And to all of his treasured extended family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and fellow community advocates and volunteers, Paul encourages each and every one of you to "keep up the mediocre work!" (another favorite saying).

A memorial gathering and Celebration of Life will be held at Ryan Funeral Home in De Pere on Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM., including military honors at 12:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of two funds established: the "Paul Francis Willems Democracy in Action" scholarship fund through the UWGB Foundation (www.uwgb.edu/foundation or UW-Green Bay Foundation, Attn: Cofrin Library Room 805, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, 54311-7001); or the Paul F. Willems Fund within Appleton Community Music, Inc., the supporting non-profit of Mile of Music (www.appletoncommunitymusic.org or P.O. Box 1674, Appleton, WI 54912).