Paul Bader

1946 - 2021

Paul Bader
August 15, 1946 - January 3, 2021
Issaquah, Washington - Paul Michael Bader passed away peacefully in Issaquah, Washington, on January 3, 2021. His wife of 52 years, JoAnn Royea Bader, was at his side.
Paul was born in Tacoma, August 15, 1946, and lived with his parents (John and Mary Bader) there, and later at Fort Lewis' FLEA Club (which his father managed), before moving to DuPont, and then to Lakewood. He briefly attended DuPont Elementary School, before enrolling at the brand new St. Frances Cabrini School in Lakewood. He graduated from Bellarmine High School in 1964 (having proudly, finally, earned a football letter), and Seattle University (with a degree in Political Science) in 1968. One week before his college graduation, he married JoAnn Royea of Seattle.
Growing up in Lakewood, Paul was the big brother who paved the way for three younger siblings: Anne (O'Neil), John, and Kate. He was also the paperboy for the greater Cabrini neighborhood, famous for riding his bike hands-free, while folding papers and pinging them into the boxes. Later, he had a part-time career delivering milk to mess-halls at Fort Lewis, where he apparently became convinced that the Army was not for him.
So, in 1968 Paul joined the US Navy and, with JoAnn, established temporary homes in Washington DC, Iceland, New Orleans, and Alameda, California. He proudly retired with the rank of Captain—and was later known to his grandchildren as "Cap." When asked what his job was in the Navy, Captain Bader routinely replied, "protecting the nation from foreign aggression."
In their post-Navy life, Paul and JoAnn re-settled in their Wedgwood-area home, which served as home-base for their many worldwide travels and cruises. The two of them became fans of high school basketball, especially the Blanchet women's team, and Paul went to work for the Bellevue City Council. He enjoyed a strong gin and tonic, white wine, promoted good grammar, and loved a good political discussion. He decidedly disliked dog hair on his clothes, messy human hair on anyone, and purple cabbage in his salad. Nonetheless, he embraced a healthy lifestyle and faced his Parkinsons' diagnosis head-on, continuing with physical therapy through this past November.
Besides his wife and siblings, Paul will be dearly missed by a son, Tim, of Dallas, a daughter Shannon Bader Place (Jess), of Bow, New Hampshire, and four grandchildren: Kate, Henry, Fletcher, and Patrick. He also leaves an extended family of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins who will never forget him.
Due to the COVID pandemic, there is no planned memorial service. The family recommends donations in Paul's name be made to the:
John W. Bader, Sr. Memorial Fund
Bellarmine Preparatory School
2300 South Washington
Tacoma, WA 98405-1304
Fair winds and following seas, Cap.