Lt. Col. Paul S. Renschen

1942 - 2015

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."
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