Paul Robert Mees

Paul Robert Mees, age 61 of Knoxville, TN, died unexpectedly on May 19, 2022. He was a graduate of Duke University, a decorated Navy Chief, the best friend of many, and a loving father and husband. He is survived by his wife Tisa Mees, his children Paul Jr., Steven, Amy, David, and Jonathan, his siblings Jim, (and his wife Sandy), Matt (and his wife Cora) Simpson, and Barbara Jean Carpenter (and her husband Michael).
Paul was born on Nov. 18, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lake Brantley High School in Florida, joined the Navy and 4 years later met his loving wife Tisa in Durham, NC during his attendance at Duke University.
He later started a successful career in medical supply sales at Henry Schein, or as Paul would always say with a smile, he "sold band-aids". But if he ever sold you a "band-aid", he had also sold you his expertise, his service, and his friendship. Paul served this company which he loved and deeply respected for almost 20 years. During his tenure at Henry Schein, he rejoined the Navy reserve, where he remained until he retired after more than 24 years of total service. During this time, he was deployed to Libya as well as Afghanistan multiple times, during which time he earned multiple commendations, including the bronze star for "leadership, expertise, and selfless devotion to duty, enhanced tactical readiness and mission accomplishment".
Paul's dedication to improving the social, spiritual, and financial lives of the people around him was a staple of who he was. He didn't want people to struggle in ways that he had. To that end, he founded the Knoxville branch of the "Sea Cadets", a group of parents and active and retired Navy personnel that create a learning environment for yo ung people in a pseudo-military environment. He taught financial peace courses and offered 100% free financial counselling to anyone who reached out. He volunteered as a Sunday School teacher at a church he didn't attend and gave generously to the one he did.
Visitation is on Friday, May 27 at 3pm, with funeral services at 4:30pm, with dinner following all held at Grace Lutheran Church, located at 9076 Middlebrook Pike Knoxville, TN 37923.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Rescues for Jojo, the adoption shelter where Paul found the family's best animal friend Max (Paypal: @rescuesforjojo@yahoo.com) or the USNSCC Smoky Mountain Anchor Division of Sea Cadets (4909 Creekrock Ln. Knoxville, TN 37918. Checks made out to Smoky Mountain Anchor Division), two programs that were near and dear to his heart.