Paul S. Barnett, age 89, passed away on Friday, December 3, 2021. Born in Washington DC on November 3, 1932, Paul grew up in New Rochelle, NY where he and his sisters enjoyed sailing in the waters off Long Island, often to his parents' dismay. As a young man he was drafted into the Army and sent to OCS; he used his GI Bill to educate himself at the University of Maine. He found the perfect partner in 1958 when he gave his future best friend, soulmate and wife a ride home from college. The two eloped a month later and spent 48 years together until Bobbie's passing in 2007. Life was never as fun for Paul without Bobbie. He was Ricky to her Lucy.

Paul was grumpy and kind; patient and impatient, motivated and disinterested. Paul was a chemical engineer with a successful career in the Paper Industry, who could just as easily retreat to the classics, recite a passage from the Bible, fire off a limerick, or read Pooh to a small child. He gave each of his children what they needed and not necessarily what they wanted. He thought a child's job was to test their parents and it was the parents' job to say no. He taught his son about kindness and his daughters about strength. He appreciated the great achievements of humanity and yet, his license plate read. 'You can't fix stupid.' He thought that God sent us into this world 'individually hard-wired' and our job was to use those gifts for our journey. He modeled compassion and strength when each were appropriate. He was a man of a thousand wonderful moments: he made things work, he managed finances, he baited hooks and bandaged knees, he paid for college educations and walked his daughters down the aisle. He magically elevated a basset hound and a pug to manly dog status. Paul loved all of his animals.

He found joy later in life in two genuinely special places: at his cottage in Townsend, Wisconsin and at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona where he enjoyed friendships, story-telling, golfing and of course, cocktail parties.

Paul was well-versed in philosophy, religion, economics, and the humanities. There was nary a world event, leader or era that he could not discuss. He was a curious combination of logical and empathetic and unapologetically human. In the end, his body could not keep pace with the strength of his mind. He was simply tired after a race well-run.

Paul was proceeded in death by his wife, Bobbie, his parents, Dick and Mary Barnett, and his infant son, Tommy.

Paul is survived by children: Steve (Diane) Barnett, Carolyn (Steve) Barnett-Howe, Tinker (Jeff) Barnett-Kasperek, and Amy, Paul's youngest and roommate for the past 14 years, (Greg) Barnett-Johnson.

Grandchildren include: Benjamin, Samantha, Kristin (Jared), JP (Emily), Katie (Todd), Carolyn (Brian), Marisa (Ryan). And great grandchildren: Ava, Olivia, McKenna, Victor, Grant, Posey, Violet and Sam

He is further survived by his sisters, Mimi Hewlett and Grace Knechtel and other relatives and friends.

Please join the family to share a story, have a cocktail and celebrate Paul's life – just as he would want it to be. Monday, December 13th from 5-8pm at the Grand Meridian. 2621 N Oneida Street, Appleton 54911.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Nurses and Staff at Primrose Memory Care for the care and compassion they showed Paul and his family.