Paul Sebastian
Paul Sebastian, adored and cherished husband, father, and grandfather, found comfort in the arms of his loving Savior on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, at the age of 84.
Paul’s life story began on June 7, 1934, in Prairie du Chien—where he spent his childhood helping on his grandparents’ farm and fishing for bluegill on the Mississippi River. Upon graduation from Campion College Preparatory School, Paul served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, and received an honorable discharge. Several years later, he graduated from UW-Madison with a BBA in accounting and earned his CPA distinction. While living in Madison, Paul met his future wife, Beatrice Cimpl, after a Badger football game. The rest was history. Paul and Bea were married in August of 1959, and their love story continued into parenthood with the adoptions of son, Tom, and daughter, Mary.
His professional journey at the Kenosha headquarters of Jockey International, which began in 1962, spanned 30 years, and encompassed a number of roles—the longest of which was senior vice president of finance, and prior to retiring in 1993, company president. Toward the latter part of his Jockey career, Paul also served as the chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers’ Association.
Paul invested in his beloved Kenosha and Marco Island, Fla., communities by serving on the Boards of Directors of St. Catherine’s Hospital, the Kenosha Youth Foundation, First National Bank, Kenosha Country Club, St. Therese Parish, St. Joseph High School Endowment Fund, Kenosha County United Way, Kenosha Chamber of Commerce, and Marco Island Friends of the Library Association. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Kiwanis Clubs of Kenosha and Marco Island, and served as a lead usher at San Marco Catholic Church in Marco Island.
Over the years, he supported many charities and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of others, but his primary passions later in life focused on education and health care. To that end, he provided full scholarships to nine deserving and hardworking students who would not otherwise have the means to attend college, and helped to expand literacy programs as president of the Marco Island Friends of the Library Association. Paul also strongly believed in equal access to life’s simple joys—such as enjoying a day at the park—which ignited in him a desire to have a swing built at the Kenosha Dream Playground for wheelchair-bound kids, adults and injured veterans. The ripple effect of Paul’s generosity also extended to the Aurora-Kenosha campus, and projects initiated by the Aurora Foundation. Driven by his firsthand experiences at Aurora-Kenosha—participation in the cardiac rehabilitation program, multiple hospital admissions, and eventually, as a patient of Aurora at Home Palliative/Hospice care—Paul recognized the exceptional standards adhered to by the health care providers of AMG-Kenosha, whom he came to deeply appreciate. Supporting AMG-Kenosha’s visions of expansion and improvement, designed to enhance the health of all patients and ease suffering in their most vulnerable moments, was the most poignant and fitting punctuation to a final chapter… of the story of a simple small-town man with a huge heart.
Left to carry on Paul’s legacy of kindness are his wife of 59 years, Bea; children, Tom Sebastian and Mary Santarelli; son-in-law, Dr. Jim Santarelli; five grandchildren: Mia, Annie, and Jimmy Santarelli, Angela and Gina Sebastian; and honorary family members: JoAnn (Mike), Sean (Trish and Natalie), and Alan (Yoli and Sophia) Neal; Jeff Barwick and Maria Sauer. Paul is survived by his brother, Bob. He was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Walter Sebastian, brother Don, and his many treasured friends and relatives.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the people who provided excellent care and loving compassion during Paul’s final months—his beloved son-in-law and family physician, Dr. Jim Santarelli, Dr. Anthony Locurto and Dr. Prakash Shah, nurse Lisa Phillips and the entire Aurora at Home Hospice Care team, the many Aurora-Kenosha nurses and CNAs for their outstanding inpatient care, and the team of caretakers who enabled Paul to stay in his home until the very end of his amazing life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., Racine, WI 53403. Entombment at All Saints Mausoleum will be private. A visitation will be held on Saturday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Jockey Being Family Foundation, 2300 60th St., Kenosha, WI 53140.; or The Dr. Alfred John Capelli Hospice and Palliative Care Fund, c/o Aurora Health Care Foundation, 950 N. 12th St., Suite A511, Milwaukee, WI 53233, or online www.aurorahealthcarefoundation.org.
Proko Funeral Home & Crematory, of Kenosha, is assisting the family. Visit and sign Paul’s online memorial book at www.prokofuneralhome.com.
