Carol Jean Paul

Carol Jean Paul was a very loving mother and beloved friend. She worked to make the lives of her children sweet, and she treasured the time she had with them. Whether traveling to visit family or seeing sights that opened up her world, Carol delighted in God’s good gifts and remained a faithful follower of Jesus.

Carol Jean was born October 8, 1935 in Glendale, Wisconsin, the youngest child of John and Hazel Mars (nee Stofflet). She and her brother James and sister Ardeth came of age during the harsh years of the Great Depression, when their parents did their best to earn a livelihood in the midst of difficult conditions. The place they rented did not have indoor plumbing, but on the positive side, the wooded area behind the house afforded the children a vast playground. The family struggled with little income, but the surrounding farm field provided space to grow food and raise rabbits and chickens.

Despite the family’s best efforts, their economic status seemed to position them on the outside of society and unfortunately, Carol Jean was picked on in school. Still, she persevered and graduated from Shorewood High School. To help with her family’s finances, she went to work at Schuster’s Department Store in Milwaukee as an elevator operator.

While on the job, Carol met a local university student who would become her husband. As it happened, Peter Paul rode the elevator that Carol was operating, but that brief encounter sparked a romance between the two. As their relationship grew, they made a commitment of marriage in August 1960. They were blessed with the birth of a daughter Mary in October of 1961 and a son William in June of 1966. Though the marriage ended in divorce, Carol remained a caring and supportive mother. She did the hard work of hotel housekeeping at Holiday Inn and later the Radisson.

Through co-workers and friends, Carol developed a great interest in spiritual matters. She wanted to know more about God and became part of a Bible study with her friend Donna Wickland. Eventually, her family joined her in a study taught by Anthony Tamel. Carol made a decision to live for Jesus and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and received the gift of the Holy Ghost at Parkway Apostolic Church.

Along with her friend Donna, Carol had the wonderful experience of traveling to Switzerland, but that was just one of the trips she enjoyed. She travelled with family to visit her brother and parents in the Seattle, Washington area and went with her daughter to Louisiana and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. She had the great pleasure of vacationing in Hawaii when she visited her son Bill.

At home, Carol was partial to all things country—the music and the movies. She liked listening to the Grand Ole Opry and watching Westerns with cowboys such as her favorite hero Roy Rogers.

In November of 2014, Carol was diagnosed with cancer and entered into her rest April 17, 2015. Because her faith was very important to her, Carol’s family can be assured that her life is now with God.

Carol Jean Paul (nee Mars). Age 79 years. Cherished mother of Mary P. Paul and William Paul. She is further survived by relatives and friends.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate Carol’s life Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at Parkway Apostolic Church 10940 S. Nicholson Road, Oak Creek, WI, 53154 from 5:30 PM until time of the Memorial Service at 6:30 PM. If desired, memorials may be directed to the wishes of the family.