Paul Ketterer lived a fulfilled life. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin on April 2, 1946 and left this earth on Monday, September 26, 2022.
From early childhood, he had his own bookshelf in his room and learned to read before he was in kindergarten. In 1951, he attended the new Midvale School on Madison’s West Side. His Dad cut a quarter mile path through the woods so he and the neighborhood kids could walk. By first grade, the woods were streets and new houses. School was full of good vibes and even had a library. School and libraries were his lifelong favorite places.
Paul graduated from Madison Central High School in 1964 and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968. He attended Garrett Evangelical Seminary and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1972 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1982. At the University, close groups of friends from high school and at the Wesley Foundation were as important as the schoolwork. A similar supportive group made seminary vibrant.
Paul had a rewarding career as a United Methodist Pastor serving churches in Melrose, Cataract, Shamrock, Monroe, Mosinee, Platteville, Burlington and Lake Mills, Wisconsin. It was an honor and privilege for him to live the journey of faith with so many great-hearted people. In retirement Paul found more ways to serve by working with the Goodman Community Center Food Pantry. It brought him great joy to be in service to others and he enriched the lives of many with his guidance, wisdom, love, and kindness. Paul loved people, especially those “least among us” and believed everyone had a story worth listening to.
Paul married Kaye Morgan in 1974 and they were later joined by two children, Ben (Julia) and Sobha (Trevor). More recently Ben and Julia added two grand girls to the family, Elena (6) and Eloisa (2). Paul loved his family to the moon and back and they were his greatest joy. His body and mind were constantly at work either doing projects for his children, from house remodeling to building a back yard shed, or dreaming up projects for another time. When he wasn’t working on projects at his children’s homes, he found many things to do at his own home from painting walls to installing flooring to building furniture. After the addition of Elena and Eloisa to his family he spent countless hours reading to them, taking them on adventures, and being a grateful grandpa in whatever role he could play.
Paul leaves behind his family: Kaye, Ben, Julia, Elena, Eloisa, Sobha, and Trevor, his brother Neil and wife Nancy, nephew Keith and wife Deanne and grandniece Amanda, and many other family members and dear friends.
Those wishing to honor Paul with a memorial may donate to the Goodman Center (https://www.goodmancenter.org/donate) or Agrace Hospice (Agrace.org/Donate).
