Paul W. Capener, age 73, left his earthly body on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Paul was a one-of-a-kind man whose passion, determination, and wit will be forever remembered by those who love him dearly.

He was born on May 8, 1947 in New London, Wisconsin and was the son of the late Ormond and Jeanette (Warnecke) Capener.

Paul spent his childhood running around his local neighborhood and having adventures with his siblings and best friends, Richard and Jim. Paul vacationed with his family and friends in Door County and the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes in the summer and spent hours ice-skating and sledding in the winter.

In his youth, Paul loved daredevil athletic activities like water skiing, whitewater rafting, and downhill skiing.

On New Year's Eve 1975, Paul met a woman who changed his life forever. From the first moment he saw Julie Thurk, Paul was eternally smitten. They were soon inseparable, and although they didn't marry until September 12, 1987, they were committed partners long before that. Paul and Julie shared similar world views, interests, and hobbies, which helped them stay connected through challenging times. Paul was incredibly lucky to have a devoted partner on earth for 45 years.

In the 1980s, Paul and Julie took many road trips to Florida and California with a rotating cast of characters that included his sister-in-law, friends, and their first baby, a sweet Lhasa Apso dog. The stories of those trips have been endlessly told and re-told; the hijinks more hilarious with each telling. Whether it was the time a poorly tied canoe fell off the car in highway traffic, the five-minute conversation about whether or not to split a coffee at a roadside diner, or spending a rainy night in a tent, what those trips lacked in luxury, they made up for it in priceless memories.

With the birth of his daughters in 1988 and 1992, Paul became a family man. Julie recalls that the day after their first daughter was born, he remarked, "I guess I have to get a real job now." Only hours before his passing, Paul talked about how he vividly recalled the day he became a father, describing the light flurries in the air on a cool March day as "fairy dust." Paul was a devoted parent to Lavilla and Bliss. He taught his girls to tie their shoes and ride their bikes as small children, teaching them the intricacies of gardening and parallel parking as they grew older. He encouraged their curiosities about the world, enthusiastically answering every question they had on any topic. He attended every parent-teacher conference, band concert, show choir, musical and theater performance. While his daughters have grown up, spread their wings, and established lives of their own, they are forever and always his Tiny Dancer and Blue Jean Baby.

Paul was an incredibly passionate and principled person who stood up for his beliefs, regardless of the potential consequences. He spent most of his time in college protesting the Vietnam War and the ensuing draft of the 1960s. He met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr a few months before Dr. King's assassination. In the 1990s, Paul joined a coalition of activists led by Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Menominee, and Mohican leaders to stop a mine from being built near Crandon, Wisconsin, and the Wolf River. In the 2010s, Paul canvassed door-to-door to attempt to recall an anti-union governor in Wisconsin. In recent years, he lobbied local officials to try to stop the construction of a nearby cell phone tower and the removal of old-growth trees from his road. He was a fierce proponent of voting and reminded everyone he saw near an election to exercise their right.

While other members of his generation focused on climbing the corporate ladder, Paul worked to live, not lived to work. He had many professions over the years that ranged from high school teacher to house painter, newspaper carrier, truck driver, and rental property landlord/manager. His true professional passion was operating a large organic garden that he used to feed his immediate family, trade with neighbors, and share with family and friends. Some years he ended up with less of harvest, and other years he came away with dozens of watermelons, hundreds of pounds of raspberries, or endless buckets of hot peppers. He was proud of his ability to plant, cultivate, and harvest from the earth without using chemicals.

Paul was a graduate of New London High School and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Beyond formal education, he was a lifelong learner. Paul was a voracious reader of history and current events who could use his extensive knowledge of politics, war, and social movements to engage anyone in a lively discussion. If you weren't careful, you could end up in a two-hour discussion about 20 ^th Century labor movements or on the receiving end of a lecture from "Professor Capener."

A big believer in the power of renewable energy sources, Paul was an early supporter of the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair near Stevens Point and had attended every year since it began in 1990. Paul also loved music and attending concerts; his favorite artists to see live were Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, and John Prine.

Paul lived his life on his own terms, and his regrets in life were few. Paul spoke often of asking the "good forces of the universe" to protect him and his loved ones. Our hope is that he has joined those good forces to continue to bless us as he did during his time on earth.

He is survived by his loving wife Julie; daughters, Lavilla Capener (Travis Houg) and Bliss Capener (Alex Kiro); siblings, Lavilla Capener and Arthur (Lori) Capener; brother-in-law, Tom Thurk; sisters-in-law, Jerri McElhany and Jill Thurk (Erv Schroeder); nephews Justin (Angie and Forrest) Bricco, Travis (Amanda, Morgan, and Wyatt) Bricco, and Anthony Capener; nieces Olivia (Dominick) Sweeney and Taylor Capener; and best friends Richard Hake (Mary Pratt) and Jim Barrington. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

His parents and sister Carole Sedlar preceded him in death.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date due to health concerns about large social gatherings.