Time For Memory

Age: 81

KAISER, Paul J., P.E.

35½ St.

Paw Paw

Paul J. Kaiser, P.E.,Consulting Engineer, Retired County Official passed away Friday, November 16, 2007 at Lakeview Community Hospital in Paw Paw. Born in Calumet, Michigan on December 5, 1925 the son of the late William L. and Elizabeth T. (Marstin) Kaiser, Paul was a graduate of Calumet High School with the class of 1942. His college education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II where he served in the Asian-Pacific Theater and the Army of Occupation in Japan. After the war he re-entered the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, obtained a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering and was a registered Professional Engineer (Civil) in the State of Michigan. On July 28, 1951 in Escanaba, Michigan, Paul was united in marriage to Bette R. (nee Hore) Kaiser who preceded him in death on October 6, 2002. Paul was also preceded in death by a son, William Kaiser. Surviving are 2 daughters, Catherine (George) Bolton of Paw Paw and Susan (Seth) Kaiser-Greenland of Los Angeles, California; four grandchildren, Jacob (Susan) Bolton of New York, New York, Nicholas Bolton of Paw Paw and Allegra and Gabriel Greenland of Los Angeles, California; two sisters, Mary Altenburg and Terri Tormen; several cousins, nieces and nephews. In May of 1953, Paul was retained by the Van Buren County Road Commission as its Engineer-Manager retiring on December 31, 1984. Following his retirement, he was a consultant for the County Road Association of Michigan and several County Road Commissions. In 1991, he was retained by the Village of Paw Paw as its consultant (Director) of the Department of Public Works. Paul was a member of the Board of Directors of the County Division of the American Road Builders and Transportation Association; Director, Secretary-Treasurer and then President and life member of the County Road Association of Michigan; the Michigan Engineering Society; the National Association of County Engineers; life member of the American Legion, McGowan-Johnson Post # 68, Paw Paw, County Chairman and Regional Vice-Chairman of the American Red Cross; Trustee and Secretary of the Paw Paw Board of Education; Director of the Upper Peninsula Road Builder’s Scholarship Fund; Council of Area and Regional Executive Boards of the Boy Scouts of America. He has been published in numerous state and national professional and trade publications. Paul has received a number of awards and citations. Noteworthy among these are: The “General Steward Medal” (1949) as Michigan’s outstanding citizen-soldier while serving in the Michigan National Guard; The County Road Association of Michigan” Distinguished Service Award” (1973); The Southwest Michigan Council, Boy Scouts of America “Silver Beaver” for distinguished service to boyhood (1973); The East Central Region, Boy Scouts of America “Silver Antelope” for distinguished service to youth (1984). In 1985, the County Road Association of Michigan established in perpetuity the “Paul J. Kaiser Medal of Honor,” first awarded to Mr. Kaiser and subsequently to be awarded to persons who may exemplify his professionalism, dedication, and contributions to Michigan’s transportation industry. Family will receive friends Sunday (11/18) 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw. Funeral services will be held Monday 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Paw Paw with Rev. Tom Abbott officiating. Interment will be in Lake View Cemetery, Calumet, MI, Tuesday 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the County Road Association of Michigan Scholarship Fund, The Inner Kids Foundation or the Boy Scouts of America Southwestern Michigan Council in Memory of Paul Kaiser.