Paul Edward Knauf was welcomed into the world and beloved by his parents, John and Dorothy Knauf, on December 7th, 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He gently bid the world adieu 72 years later on November 24, 2025 in Denver, Colorado surrounded by his family. In the span of years that unfurled between those two dates, Paul touched hundreds of lives as a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather, a friend and a mentor.
It has been said that to know a man, one must know his enemies. But Paul had no enemies and thus, despite his open heart and unflagging, affable demeanor, he will always remain slightly—if fondly—enigmatic to those who knew him. While he took great pleasure in material success and the acquisition of beautiful things, he never hesitated to give them away—whether to help out a friend in need or simply make someone smile. Paul was the rarest of birds: a genuine people-person who reveled in entertaining friends at his home, grilling fine meat to perfection and pouring perfect libations. He was also a natural leader, once confessing that he hesitated to join clubs or industry groups because he was certain he would inevitably be appointed president and, though his amiable nature would compel him to accept the post, it would consume time and attention better spent on family and friends.
In short, Paul was a practical soul, clever and hard-working, who knew who and what he was: a charismatic role model who inspired loyalty in his colleagues and friends alike.
Raised in La Canada, California where he was a proud alumnus of Saint Francis Catholic Boys High School, completing his college education at San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Paul initiated his professional career marketing group insurance products at Travelers Life Insurance, where he met and fell in love with his colleague, Carol Ducey. The newlyweds settled in Altadena, California, where they bore two beautiful children—a son, Michael, who succumbed to complications of encephalitis, and a daughter, Jessica, who survived, thrived and was the very apple of her father's eye.
Paul continued his career as a successful employee benefits professional as a Senior Representative for Bankers Life of Iowa (later, the Principal Financial Group), then opening and running the Los Angeles office of Old Northwest Agents, and finally taking over the brokerage founded by his father, Personnel Benefit Systems.
He retired to Denver to spend the last four years of his long, productive life in close proximity to his daughter Jessica and his devoted son-in-law, Kenneth Leavitt, as well as be a loving, proud Papa to his two delightful grandsons, Wiley and Hugh. Always present for swim lessons and Sunday dinners, he gleefully performed as the tragically tone-deaf half of the internationally-obscure singing duo "The Shabbat Boys" with grandson Wiley.
Paul was predeceased by his parents, John and Dorothy Knauf, his son, Michael, his brother, John, and his former wife and close, lifelong friend, Carol Ducey. He is survived by Jessica, Kenneth, Wiley and Hugh, his brother, Daniel, sister, Kathy Leiber, nine nieces and nephews, an impressively large, loving extended family of twelve nutty cousins, as well as hundreds of friends, colleagues and clients whose lives he enhanced with his ready smile, generosity, wisdom and affable nature.
It was his wish to posthumously offer thanks to the dedicated and kind health professionals who assisted and cared for him in his final years. His last words were, "This has been great... everything."
Paul Knauf was a good man.
He loved and was loved.
The world is a better place for his having been in it and he will be sorely missed now that he is not.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 16th at 11:00 at Annandale Golf Club- 1 North San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena.
It has been said that to know a man, one must know his enemies. But Paul had no enemies and thus, despite his open heart and unflagging, affable demeanor, he will always remain slightly—if fondly—enigmatic to those who knew him. While he took great pleasure in material success and the acquisition of beautiful things, he never hesitated to give them away—whether to help out a friend in need or simply make someone smile. Paul was the rarest of birds: a genuine people-person who reveled in entertaining friends at his home, grilling fine meat to perfection and pouring perfect libations. He was also a natural leader, once confessing that he hesitated to join clubs or industry groups because he was certain he would inevitably be appointed president and, though his amiable nature would compel him to accept the post, it would consume time and attention better spent on family and friends.
In short, Paul was a practical soul, clever and hard-working, who knew who and what he was: a charismatic role model who inspired loyalty in his colleagues and friends alike.
Raised in La Canada, California where he was a proud alumnus of Saint Francis Catholic Boys High School, completing his college education at San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Paul initiated his professional career marketing group insurance products at Travelers Life Insurance, where he met and fell in love with his colleague, Carol Ducey. The newlyweds settled in Altadena, California, where they bore two beautiful children—a son, Michael, who succumbed to complications of encephalitis, and a daughter, Jessica, who survived, thrived and was the very apple of her father's eye.
Paul continued his career as a successful employee benefits professional as a Senior Representative for Bankers Life of Iowa (later, the Principal Financial Group), then opening and running the Los Angeles office of Old Northwest Agents, and finally taking over the brokerage founded by his father, Personnel Benefit Systems.
He retired to Denver to spend the last four years of his long, productive life in close proximity to his daughter Jessica and his devoted son-in-law, Kenneth Leavitt, as well as be a loving, proud Papa to his two delightful grandsons, Wiley and Hugh. Always present for swim lessons and Sunday dinners, he gleefully performed as the tragically tone-deaf half of the internationally-obscure singing duo "The Shabbat Boys" with grandson Wiley.
Paul was predeceased by his parents, John and Dorothy Knauf, his son, Michael, his brother, John, and his former wife and close, lifelong friend, Carol Ducey. He is survived by Jessica, Kenneth, Wiley and Hugh, his brother, Daniel, sister, Kathy Leiber, nine nieces and nephews, an impressively large, loving extended family of twelve nutty cousins, as well as hundreds of friends, colleagues and clients whose lives he enhanced with his ready smile, generosity, wisdom and affable nature.
It was his wish to posthumously offer thanks to the dedicated and kind health professionals who assisted and cared for him in his final years. His last words were, "This has been great... everything."
Paul Knauf was a good man.
He loved and was loved.
The world is a better place for his having been in it and he will be sorely missed now that he is not.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 16th at 11:00 at Annandale Golf Club- 1 North San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Edward Knauf, please visit our flower store.
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