Paul J. Mayhak

Paul J. Mayhak, December 19, 1933 – May 18, 2023 Fort Collins – Paul Justus Mayhak, 89, passed on peacefully with his daughters Jody and Kimberly at his bedside. He was born in Zion, Illinois on Dec 19, 1933. The son of Justus Mayhak and Pauline (Livinghouse) Cook. He grew up with his sisters Jolene and Patricia. Paul was predeceased by his Wife of 69 years Norma E. Mayhak who succumbed to complications of the Covid Virus on September 14, 2021. Paul attended school in Illinois and graduated from Zion-Benton High School in Zion, Illinois. Paul was an avid hunter and made several hunting trips to Colorado with family in his High School years. Paul and Norma met in High School and as teenagers, he told Norma that when he graduated, he was going to move to Colorado so he could enjoy the Great Outdoors in the Rocky Mountains. Paul and Norma graduated in 1952 and that Summer they both jumped into a Model A Ford, and spent their Honeymoon driving to Fort Collins. They were married 69 years and after Norma’s death in 2021 Paul was not the same man. He battled Covid in the hospital with Norma and when she fell to the disease Paul fought on and survived. Paul missed Norma deeply and depended on his immediate family for care and comfort as he remained in his home in Fort Collins. Paul & Norma started their family with Paul painting houses and assisting his Uncles with construction. Norma was in the home raising their three children, as his partner, and a homemaker. He taught his children integrity and hard work by his example. Paul spent many years painting, carpentering, and finishing drywall in homes throughout Fort Collins and the local area. Some may remember Paul in his Sky Blue, 1950 Willys Jeep Station Wagon with his logo on the side, “Paul’s Drywall”. An avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, skier, camper, and metal detectorist. His activities came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a severely broken leg while skiing . He invested as an owner in Baskin Robbins Ice Cream on South College Avenue. This afforded Paul the full recovery of his leg and within a year or so, sold the Ice Cream store and returned to build Custom homes with his Stepfather Joe Cook. In over 35 years of building homes Joe and Paul never had a comeback or a customer complaint. They were never needed to come back and correct or fix anything in any of their newly completed homes. The job was done right the first time. When Joe passed on, Paul continued in construction, painting, roofing and interior finishings. Paul loved to hunt and was an expert marksman and was fond of Black powder rifles. He attended many Colorado Trappers Rendezvous winning competitions in shooting, fast reloading (an art in itself), as well as telling tall tales and winning the Liars Contest a few years in a row. He also loved to hunt with his metal detector. He searched for artifacts, old coins, jewelry, and junk. He was a founder and longtime member of a local prospector and metal detector club. He often won “Find of the Month '' and once won “Find of the Year” with an antique trade token. Paul was a man of faith and a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He became “Born Again "in the 70’s during the Jesus Revolution. They started at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he was a Deacon and where the family was raised in the church. He and Norma later moved on to First Christian/Christ Center Community Church where Paul was an Elder for over 40 years. Paul volunteered his skills to assist the church and it’s members, especially widows, with painting, repairing, building anything needed for the church. Paul was also an American Patriot. Proudly flying the Flag. Honoring our Veterans and upholding our Laws. Paul was predeceased by his parents, 6 Uncles, 3 Aunts, wife Norma and son-in-law Clyde Dupper. Survived by Sisters Jolene Bice of Denver, Patricia Cook of Sun City Arizona, daughters Jody Dupper of Windsor, Kimberly Schwindt, and Husband Randy, of Fort Collins. Son, Timothy Mayhak, and Wife Marcelle of Kalispell Montana. Seven Grandchildren and eight Great-Grandchildren. Services will be at Bohlender Funeral Home, Friday, May 26 at 11:00, a reception will immediately follow the service. Paul will be interred next to Norma at Grandview Cemetery at 2:30pm Friday. In loue of flowers please make donations to Pathways Hospice.

Tributes

Paul J. Mayhak

December 19, 1933 - May 18, 2023