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Phillip Paludan Obituary
SPRINGFIELD - Phillip Shaw Paludan, beloved father, husband, teacher, scholar and friend died at his home Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007.
He was born Jan. 26, 1938, in St. Cloud, Minn., the son of Paul and Marguerite Shaw Paludan.
Phillip Shaw Paludan was a professor of history and the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield. One of the nation's foremost authorities on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, he joined the faculty of the history program at UIS in 2001.
He received B.A. and M.A. degrees from Occidental College and his doctorate from the University of Illinois where he studied under Harold Hyman and Robert Johannsen. He taught at the University of Kansas for over thirty years, and held visiting appointments at Rutgers University and University College Dublin, Ireland, before being named Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS.
He is the author of four books on the Civil War era, studying constitutional thought of the age, guerrilla warfare, the impact of the war on Northern society (A People's Contest, The Union and Civil War 1861-1865, Harper & Row, 1988), and The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln (Kansas, 1994). He received the Lincoln Prize for his study of Lincoln's presidency, as well as the Barondess Lincoln Award from the New York City Civil War Round Table. His numerous awards include post doctoral fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Harvard Law School. He has also received a Diploma of Honor from Lincoln Memorial University and an honorary doctorate from Lincoln College.
Professor Paludan was frequently invited to lecture, speaking in the past year on "Lincoln and Democracy" at the University of Kansas and Ohio Northern University, and on "Lincoln and the Kansas Nebraska Act" at the University of Nebraska.
He was a board member of the Abraham Lincoln Association and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his devoted wife Marty; two adoring daughters, Karin (husband, Drake) Sorey and Kirsten Paludan; stepchildren, Jim Hammond, Brett Hammond, Jill Donatelli, and Cody Hammond; and five stepgrandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
Memorial may be made to the Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series at the University of IL. at Springfield, UIF, One University Plaza, MS PAC 591, Springfield, IL 62703
The family is being served by Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel. Visit the online obituary and sign the guest book at www.boardman-smith.net.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Phillip Paludan
Donovan Weight
August 17, 2007
Dr. Paludan was my thesis advisor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. I deeply appreciated his willingness to work with me even though he did not feel well alot of the time. I appreciated his insights into both my area of focus and the Civil War Era in general. He will be truly missed and my heart goes out to his family.
Myra Ellingwood
August 12, 2007
Please accept my sincere condolences. I was priviledged to hear Dr. Paldan speak when I attended the 2006 Lincoln Fellowship. He will be missed. Sincerely, Myra Ellingwood
Christine Crenshaw
August 10, 2007
Dear Marty,
The notice of Phil's death took me by surprise so am hoping he left this life with little physical distress. Your friends and family will surround you with love and Phil will be with you, probably uniquely, in ways that surprise, enrich and sometimes delight....assuming your heart is open.
Marina Jenkins
August 8, 2007
I really enjoyed Dr. Paludan when he came and spoke to the first group of Abraham Lincoln Fellows during the summer of 2006. He was so interesting and was like a history book on two feet. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Marina Jenkins
Livermore Elementary School
Kentucky Fellow
Eleanor Duguid
August 7, 2007
August 7, 2007
Dear Marty,
I just learned of Phil's death. How very sorry I am for your great loss. I remember witnessing your joy and happiness as you planned your wedding and seeing you and Phil together following. Please know you are in my prayers.
Affectionately,
Eleanor Duguid
Sherry Farris
August 7, 2007
Dear Marty,
I just heard about Phil and want you to know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sherry Farris
Kaye Stewart
August 7, 2007
Marty,
I just received an email about Phil passing away. Please know that I will be praying for you and your family.
Kansas Board of Regents
Deb McClure Warren
August 7, 2007
Marty
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. I don't think I'd ever seen my father so thrilled as when he met Phil and had him autograph Sidney's book. Missing and thinking of you.
Ted Ayres
August 6, 2007
Marty:
I only learned of Phil's death this morning. I am so sorry for your loss and your grief. As I was motivated to think of prior interactions and conversations, it occurred to me that Phil was truly a gentleman and a scholar - he was also a gentle man. Marcia and I send our best and hope that your grief will soon be subsumed by memories of good and wonderful times and gratitude for all that you and Phil had together. Love, Ted!
Jennifer Parnell
August 6, 2007
Marty:
I am so sorry to hear of Phil's passing. Hold on to your memories, and let them guide you during this time of sadness.
Jennifer Parnell
jennifer fleischner
August 5, 2007
Dear Mrs. Paludan,
I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. Phil was one of my favorite Lincoln friends, as I have come to think of the wonderful people I've met at Lincoln events. He was always kind and helpful to me, and I will miss him.
Take care, Jennifer Fleischner
Kathy Koplik
August 5, 2007
Dear Marty--I learned of Phil's death yesterday and have been thinking of him and of you with both joy and sorrow since then. It was a joy to have known Phil--that gentle, gracious, wise and funny soul. It is a great sorrow to know that he is no longer with us. I am grateful to have seen you both so recently. I will be in touch soon. Please call me if I can help in any way.
Christine Fogler
August 4, 2007
Dear Marty,
I had the privilege of meeting Phillip and basking in his wisdom last month when I visited Springfield for the Abraham Lincoln fellowship program. I feel very fortunate to have met such a kind, soft-spoken man who shared his knowledge of Lincoln with all of us.
Although I have never met you, I read the dedication in your husband's book. What a special person you must be as well! Peace be with you and your family.
John McQuown
August 4, 2007
With great sympathy to the Paludan family:
I first met Phil when he was a TA and I was an undergraduate at Urbana some forty years ago. I read his column in the Daily Illini. I bought and read his books. I attended papers he presented occasionally at Lincoln Day programs at the Old State Capitol. I was delighted that he took the Chair at UIS.
I know that this is a better world because of Phil's contributions and is dimished by his passing.
Evelyn Yurdin
August 4, 2007
Don and I were sad to learn of Phil's death and admired his unfailing courage and diginity. Our deepest sympathy to you, Marty and all the family.
Bob McWilliams
August 4, 2007
Dear Marty and family:
It was with great sadness that I read of Phil's death in today's Lawrence newspaper. I cannot begin to express how much Phil meant to me as my teacher and mentor. He was my great inspiration as an undergraduate at KU, where he encouraged me to major in history, to write a senior paper, and in my quest to go to Harvard Law School (I am sure his recommendation was a key reason why I was admitted). When I was disillusioned with the law, he encouraged me to return to history, and was my mentor for my Master's thesis, and as his teaching assistant, I learned so much that I still use today in my own classes. I strive to emulate his passion and his high standards every time I walk into the classroom. On a personal note to Kirsten--I so remember you coming my your Dad's office in Wescoe, to go to lunch with him or to just drop in and visit. His wonderful relationship with you was a joy and inspiration to see, and the way he glowed whenever you appeared was a sign of great love. I loved Phil and grieve at his death, but know that I will carry his inspiration within me.
Joseph Hughes
August 3, 2007
Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace.
Wendy VanDyke
August 3, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Paludan speak on Lincoln and I will always remember his words. He was an insipation to me.
David Laube
August 3, 2007
My prayers are with you all. We have been graced by a name of great stature in his lifetime. We of the ISO share in your loss. David
Linda Casey Kustra
August 3, 2007
I am so sorry to learn of your personal loss as well as that to the scholarly world. I heard Dr. Paludan share his some of his wisdom on Lincoln during a Horace Mann Fellowship panel discussion and was much inspired.
Caryl Moy
August 3, 2007
Dear Marty and family,
This morning Dick's and my thoughts have centered on the great loss Phil's death means to this whole community. We are glad we have such great memories of him. Our prayers are with you.
Caryl Moy
Don, Tish & Kaylea Knappenberger
August 3, 2007
Marty
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Kathryn Harris
August 3, 2007
Marty and Family,
You are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. May memories bring you peace and comfort.
Kathryn M. Harris
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Meaghan Morris
August 3, 2007
I was in one of the professor's classes on the Civil War at UIS. I was always amazed at how much information he had on the subject and was always interested in what he had to say.
To the family, you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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