More detail on this person: Lt. Col. (Retired)
Paul S. Renschen had a big heart. It carried him
through a lot, working hard past all the ills that
came his way. He often expressed his own surprise
he was still alive, delighted to be riding a
snowmachine into his 70s. He loved life and he
loved living it in Alaska. He took part in every
activity he could cram into his day, and when the
day was done, he sat down before bed and wrote a
story of the day's adventure to share with
everyone who wasn't lucky enough to have his life.
Paul Renschen simply could not be slowed down. It
was that large heart, not Paul, that finally gave
up Sunday morning, April 26, 2015.
Paul was born an Army brat in Little Rock,
Arkansas, on Aug. 3, 1942, but Minnesota became
home, along with a lifetime devotion to Vikings
football. He set his sights on a military career
at an early age and paid his own way through a
private military high school with the goal of
attending West Point. He graduated from West
Point, class of 1965, and began his military
career in Germany.
There he met his future bride, Neva. They were
married in May 1966. Their son was born in January
1968, four weeks premature, giving Paul precious
time with his newborn son before he shipped off to
Vietnam, exactly four weeks later. After his
first tour, Paul attended flight school, and was
rewarded with another tour in Vietnam, flying
Cobra helicopters. His love for flight never
waned. The family was reunited in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, where they welcomed their daughter from
Seoul, Korea, in 1973. Paul earned his master's in
history at the University of Michigan. After
graduation, the military took the family to Fort
Hood, Fort Leavenworth, and back to West Point,
where Paul taught military history. It was there
he had his first heart attack. He was grounded
from flying and sent to Bad Hersfeld, assigned to
East German border patrol. After assignments in
Heidelberg and Kaiserslautern, Germany, and
Belgium, the family returned to the United States
and Paul retired at Fort Lewis in 1990.
Now it was Paul's turn to follow Neva's career.
They returned to their beloved Heidelberg where
Paul could fly gliders, downhill ski and teach.
Next up was Alaska in 1997, where snowmachining
and fishing were added to the menu of adventure.
When Desert Shield began, Paul and Neva moved
to Vicenza, Italy, where they stayed throughout
Desert Storm. There were no soldiers for Paul to
teach; they were all deployed, so he researched
the history of Vicenza and became a tour guide for
military families.
During the winters, he returned to Alaska for one
month to ride his snowmachine. Neva remained in
Italy, but they communicated daily.
The pair returned to Alaska for the final time in
2004, but the word "retire" was never a part of
the vocabulary. Paul liked to say that there was
more to do in Fairbanks than could possibly be
done. He worked as a local road service area
commissioner, was active in Right To Life, served
on the board of the Snow Travelers, and fished
whenever the opportunity presented itself, often
accompanied by his pets. Animals were always a
part of his life. He continued to teach military
history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He
was regarded as a firm, but fair mentor who
expected the best from his students.
He loved his church, sang in the Latin Mass choir
and never missed a service unless he was ill, even
braving the ice on Chena Ridge to attend.
There will be Requiem Mass held at 5 p.m. Friday,
May 1, at St. Nicholas Church in North Pole,
followed by a reception in the church hall. Paul
will then make his final flight and be laid to
rest at Fort Snelling Cemetery, St. Paul,
Minnesota, near his parents. His wish was to be
"buried with soldiers."
Paul is survived by his wife, Neva; son Paul
(Dawn), daughter Kimberly, granddaughter Kayla,
sister Lori and all the many family and friends
with whom he shared his adventures.
Donations can be made in Paul's memory to the
Wounded Warrior Project. "Deus vobiscum, Paul.
You are much loved."
Published in Daily News-Miner on Apr. 28, 2015
This information was last updated 12/04/2014
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