Paul Pautler

Paul F. Pautler, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 10, 2020, at Chateau Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 7, 1934, at the family home in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, the third child and only son of Herman L. and Edna A. Petrequin Pautler. He married Hallie B. McHenry on Dec. 14, 1962, in Hogan, Missouri. She preceded him in death July 5, 2003. He married Ruth Jones McHenry on Sept. 18, 2004. She survives.

Following graduation from Ste. Genevieve High School in 1951, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1956. He then served as an officer (first lieutenant) in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from 1956 to 1957, stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Ord, California, and Schweinfurt, Germany. He returned to the university and received his bachelor's of journalism degree in 1959.

His journalism career began as a young man working with his uncle Alvin Petrequin in Ste. Genevieve, and his professional career started when he was employed as news editor of the Fredericktown Democrat-News from 1959 to 1963. He and Hallie moved to Perryville, Missouri, when he purchased The Monitor weekly newspaper April 1, 1964. During the next 17 years, he expanded the newspaper to a twice-weekly publication after acquiring the competing Perry County Republic. Other acquisitions included the Ste. Genevieve Herald, the St. Mary Review and Mineral Area Publishers, a newspaper printing plant in Farmington, Missouri. In January 1981, he completed a business deal in which he sold all newspaper interests and retired. He was the former president (1975-1976) and member of Southeast Missouri Press Association, former member and associate with Missouri Press Association and former member of Sigma Delta Chi, a professional journalism fraternity.

Organizations to which he belonged include member of Perryville Chamber of Commerce (1964-2000), serving as president in 1972; member of the board of directors of Perryville Development Corp. (1960s--1997), also serving at one time or another in all executive capacities of the organization; charter member of Perry County Industrial Development Authority (1983-1998), serving two terms as president; member and president (1986) of Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority; and member and former chairman of the regional Selective Service Board (1981-2001). He was also a former director of Capital Bank of Perryville; a member of the Perryville and Cape Girardeau country clubs; former member and secretary of Perryville Elks Lodge 2701; former member and president of Perryville Lions Club; secretary of Perco Hunting & Fishing Club; member, elder, and former clerk of the session of First Presbyterian Church in Perryville; member of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau; and served two terms on the resident council at Chateau Girardeau.

In addition to his wife Ruth, he is survived by a son, Paul Pautler Jr. (Anne) of Kansas City; three daughters, Cheryl (Stephen) Rogers of Aurora, Colorado, Jo (Mike) Greife of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Jennifer (Tim) Coad of Cape Girardeau; 10 grandchildren, Katie, Ben, Joe and Hallie Pautler of Kansas City, Matt (Karin) Rogers of Fort Collins, Colorado, Sarah Weaver of Louisville, Colorado, Ryan Mueller of Sullivan, Missouri, Megan (Craig) Sager of Trenton, Missouri, and Hogan and Hattie Coad of Cape Girardeau; seven great-grandchildren, Trista, Bradyn, Daniel, Graeme, Winona, Diana and Aidyn; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by Ruth's daughters, Sara (Mike) Yates of Ironton, Missouri, and Amy Moyle of Rolla, Missouri; her grandchildren, Mark (Kayleigh) Jackson of Ironton and Jeremy (Sara) Jackson of Cape Girardeau; and her great-grandchildren, Malachi, Kynnedy, Lyla, Nolan and Elliana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Hallie; and his sisters, Yvonne Basler and Elaine McCammon.

He loved to travel, especially to Florida and Hawaii, and in recent years, enjoyed spending winters in Puerto Vallarta.

He was a master storyteller and greatly enjoyed regaling his family with tales of his hardscrabble life growing up in Ste. Genevieve in the 1930s and 1940s. His accuracy of such stories was questioned, however, when his children discovered photos of him as a child seated under the family Christmas tree surrounded by toy trucks, airplanes, sporting equipment and everything else a child could want. His older sisters often confirmed that as the only boy in the family, he managed to do just fine.

He liked to picture himself as the stern taskmaster of the family, but as many friends of his children can attest after experiencing his hospitality and warmth as teenagers, he was really an old softie.

He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and was offered a minor league contract by the club as a teenaged left-handed pitcher, which he declined in order to attend college. He also was a loyal fan of all Missouri Tigers sports and any left-handed professional golfer. He loved to fish with numerous fishing buddies over the years, with his children, and with his grandchildren. Many life lessons were taught and learned during these excursions. He also loved following his children and grandchildren in sports, music, writing, theater and dance, or whatever captured their passions.

One of his more famous qualities was his ability to judge a young person's character, risk aversion, or perhaps just overall intelligence by offering payment for eating a hot pepper, a pickled herring or an onion. Some youngsters earned upward of several dollars in these challenges, others as little as 13 cents. It's not known exactly where they ranked in the previously mentioned categories based on the amount of money earned.

He loved deeply, but quietly. Despite his God-given talent with the English language, it was known by most that his affection was not shown in words, but in subtle gestures and small gifts -- a chocolate shake, a favorite doughnut from Hoeckele's, a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. The meaning was not in the gift itself, but in the affection behind it.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau or charity of choice.

Condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.