Paul Joseph Walter Vonnegut

1923 - 2021

Paul Joseph Walter Vonnegut
February 8, 1923 - February 20, 2021
Resident of Walnut Creek, CA
Paul J. Vonnegut, 98, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2021 at Bruns House in Alamo, CA. He was a resident of Rossmoor for over 16 years.
Paul was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1923 to Alfred Vonnegut and Martha (Schollenberg) Vonnegut. He resided there for six months before moving with his parents and seven siblings to Oakland, CA.
Paul attended St. Elizabeth's High School in Oakland. At 19 he joined the Air Force in the Cadet Division. When he completed boot camp and 12 months of preflight training, Paul was reassigned to Georgia to become a flight attendant, until being discharged. His normal flight route would take him from Hamilton Field to Honolulu. He flew as far as Guadalcanal, Australia, Guam, Canton, Christmas Island, Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and then to Guam.
After serving in the military from November 1942 to January 1946, Paul started his career at Southern Pacific Railroad in the Passenger Car Department. He then joined their Safety Department in San Francisco until retirement in 1975. He attended Golden Gate College majoring in Accounting and graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Most important to him was his faith, family, and a good meal. Paul had a big heart and was welcoming to everyone. He had a friendly, positive disposition, with a wonderful sense of humor. Paul enjoyed bowling, basketball, gardening, home improvements, woodwork, music, and cooking, especially barbecuing during the summer.
Paul married Gayle Streuli on June 26, 1954 in Walnut Creek. They lived in Walnut Creek for 21 years before moving about, to Rogers, AR, Benicia, Healdsburg, and Lincoln before finally returning to Walnut Creek to the Rossmoor retirement community. Paul was a parishioner at St. Anne's Church in Walnut Creek and a member of the Knights of Columbus of Lincoln, CA.
In addition to his parents, Alfred and Martha, and siblings, Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Gayle Vonnegut. He is survived by his daughters Natalia Vonnegut of Walnut Creek, Julianne Vonnegut of Rogers, AR, and Karin (Mark) Dewey of Bentonville, AR, and son Petermartin Vonnegut of Benicia, CA; grandson Evan (Lisa) Dewey; great-grandson Michael Dewey; and numerous nieces and nephews. His presence will be missed everyday.
A rosary service followed by Air Force military honors and internment were held at St. Joseph Cemetery/Holy Angels Funeral Center in San Pablo on March 19, 2021 with his children in attendance.


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