Paul Bernard Heimsath

Paul Bernard Heimsath "Skip"

Paul Bernard Heimsath, affectionately known as "Skip," was born on February 11, 1944, in Chicago, and passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024. His journey began in Coloma, Michigan, where he attended Saint Joseph's Catholic grade school and Coloma High School. From an early age, Skip's profound love for the outdoors was evident through his passion for pets, hunting and fishing.

After high school, Skip proudly served our country as a communications specialist in the U.S. Army, with tours of duty in Ethiopia and Vietnam. His adventurous spirit led him back to Vietnam for a second tour as a civilian working for Air America. He continued his education at Eastern Michigan University, earning a degree in biology, and spent his summers fighting forest fires. Skip then pursued a master's degree in wildlife biology at Michigan State University. During this time, he married Joanne Johnson, "Jan," marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter. An assignment to fight a fire in Alaska ultimately led Skip and Jan to make it their home.

In Alaska, Skip and Jan raised their three children: Diane, Christopher, and Jack. He dedicated many years to public service with the U.S. Federal Government, primarily with the Bureau of Land Management, until his retirement. Not one to be idle, Skip embraced entrepreneurship, owning a convenience store called "Skip's Cache," and also found joy in building houses. Fairbanks became his longtime home, where he cultivated many deep and cherished friendships.

Skip was a true global citizen with a lifelong passion for travel. His time in the service took him around the world, and he continued to explore new places whenever possible after retirement. In his final years, Skip moved to Texas, where he savored time with family, enjoyed dining out, and delighted in sharing stories of his incredible journeys.

Throughout most of his life, a beloved dog or other animal was his constant companion, reflecting his kind and compassionate nature. Skip was truly a man with a generous heart of gold and a brilliant mind. An avid reader, he possessed an impressive depth of knowledge on a vast array of topics.

Skip was preceded in death by his sons, Christopher and Jack; his parents, Paul and Josephine; his sisters, Sandra Gnewuch and MaryElizabeth Hayes; his brother-in-laws, Jack Gnewuch (Sandra Heimsath's spouse) & Mike Watson (Linda Heimsath's spouse), and his sister-in-law Alison Heimsath (Robert Heimsath's spouse).

He is survived by his daughter, Diane, and son-in-law, Corey; his two grandsons, Wyatt and Walker; and his siblings: Linda Watson, John Heimsath (Carol), Richard (Laura Muth) Heimsath, Robert Heimsath, Patricia Bolt (Jim), and Gerald Heimsath (Maureen) and In-laws Greg Hayes and Sandy Heimsath. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Skip was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.