Paul C. Maple Jr.

Paul C. Maple, Jr. of Ashland, passed away on January 13, 2024 at Tamarack Health, Ashland, WI, with loved ones by his side.
Paul was born on September 30, 1936, in Logansport, Indiana, to Paul Maple Sr., and Betty (Hutton) Maple.
He graduated from Logansport High School, Logansport, Indiana. He continued his education, receiving his nursing training at McLean Hospital, Boston, MA; and thereafter receiving his anesthesia training at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Paul was united in marriage on May 20, 1959 in Millinocket, Maine to Mass General nursing graduate Elizabeth "Betty" Maple. Nursing careers beckoned Paul and Betty to varied locales.
In 1966 Paul was drafted into the Navy as a lieutenant. He received his indoctrination at Great Lakes Naval Academy, Great Lakes, IL, and was stationed at Nimitz Hill, Guam, to administer anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Paul and Betty returned to the States and both continued their CRNA and nursing careers in Marquette, Michigan, before finally settling in Ashland, Wisconsin in 1974. Paul worked at Memorial Medical Center, Ashland, Wisconsin as an anesthetist until 1988.
Paul truly loved his life's work as an anesthetist and he was considered one of the best in his field. That being the case, he continued his work for twenty more years doing locum tenens in anesthesia and practicing his specialty in many areas of the country; Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, to name a few.
In retirement, Paul was able to spend time at the ocean he loved so much. A self-proclaimed "parrothead", he liked nothing better than to stroll the Florida Beach gathering seashells, reading a good book and enjoying a seafood dinner.
Paul was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ashland.
He is survived by his three children; Mark (Melissa) Maple, of New Richmond; Jeffrey (Sid) Maple of Ashland and Timothy (Dawn) Maple of St. Paul, MN. Nine grandchildren, Casey (Hillary) Porter; Heather Perkins, Dillon Maple; Michael (Monica) Maple; Allison Maple; Alexandra Maple; Erika Maple; Danica (Tyler) Durand and Drake (Kaylee) Durand; and four great-grandchildren; Shawn Perkins; Devin Rubrecht; Aydin Rubrecht and Tatum Carlson.
Paul is also survived by his siblings; sister, Betty Anne Wilson; brother, Michael (Karen) Maple, both of Logansport, IN; brother, Steven (Vicki) Maple, Wheatfield, IN; and sister-in-law, Karen Maple, Fishers, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Paul was also blessed, receiving the enduring friendship of Donald and Carol Koski, Marquette, MI.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; brother, Edward Maple; sister, Sandra (Susie) Greene; and by his parents.
A Celebration of Life event will be held later in the spring.
"If there is a heaven for me, I'm sure it has a beach attached." – Jimmy Buffett
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Mountain Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ashland and Mellen, WI.