Paul Russell Simon

Originally from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Paul Russell Simon passed away in his home late Friday, January 30th, 2026 after a brief but courageous fight with cancer. He was 67 years old. Before that, though, you should have seen him.

When Paul was younger, he could jump so high that the bottom hem of his shorts cleared the volleyball net. He once scored 32 points in a Saturday morning basketball game. At his daughter’s wedding, he danced all night on a broken knee. And every 4th of July, he would put on firework shows (hand-lit, from the dock, neighbors be damned) that dwarfed the city’s. He also could tell a good story. This is partly because he (like his mother and like every good Irishman) never let the truth get in the way.

Now, for the verifiable facts: He was funny. Uproariously so. He was on stage everywhere he went. Call it the gift of gab, call it a big personality, or call it a high capacity for bullshit, but Paul was endlessly entertaining.

He took care of people, especially the downtrodden. Sometimes it was warm clothes, better shoes, a fresh haircut, or a day running errands. Sometimes it was a place to live (even a spare room in a warehouse). He saw the dignity in people, and he helped them to see dignity in themselves.

His defining feature, though, was his love. In his later years, he practically glowed with it. It extended to all of his family, but especially the littlest kids. To them, he was CooCoo. He saw it as his role to pass on important knowledge to the littles: How to build a better fort in the sand, how to play war, the game of Spud, and how to order kiddie cocktails at the bar. He would stir up mischief with them, give out pony rides, chase them into the lake fully-clothed, and then turn around and be soft and gentle, singing the songs that his own parents used to sing. Twenty minutes later, they’d all be wrestling together on the ground.

Paul is survived by his wife, Kelly; his children, Nikki (Josh), Sam (Brian), and Matt (Katie); his grandchildren Wesley, Jack, Ben, and Sutton; his siblings Jane (Kathy), Nancy (Larry), George, Betty (Paul), Rosemary (Mark), Mark (Amy), and Donna (Kurt); as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Cooney; and his brothers Ted and Daniel.

He was born January 9th, 1959 in Kaukauna. He graduated from Kaukauna High School and UW-LaCrosse. He prided himself on owning his own business almost all of his adult life (which is for the best, as it’s very hard to imagine Paul having a boss). He enjoyed cooking (though not so much as he enjoyed eating), being with his family, fishing, music, and travel, especially to visit his grandchildren.

And there is so much more to say. How if there were six appetizers on the menu, he’d order five of them, or how he’d always move onto another chore before the three he’d already started were done. How at the annual pickleball tournament (kneepads and red shorts) he’d dive for balls like he was playing for gold in the Olympics. Or how if there was a job to do, he'd be the first one there to help in the morning and the last one to leave at night. There was his over-the-top frugality, the infamous gold van, and the nicknames he had for every niece, nephew, friend and stranger.

He will be remembered as a self proclaimed “peacock” who loved bright colors, doing his hair, and whose loud voice could be heard across theme parks and sporting fields. And he’ll always be remembered as Coo Coo.

A visitation will be held at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church-St. Mary site, 119 West 7th Street in Kaukauna, on Saturday, February 14th from 9:30AM-12:00PM. A mass will follow. As Paul loved bright colors, please feel free to wear them to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and The Special Olympics.

Paul, you were larger than life. You always said you would live to be 113 years old. That, like many of your stories, was unbelievable. But 67 is just as unbelievable. We love you, Paul. We’ll miss you.