Paul Von Reichert

May 1921-September 2023

 

Paul von Reichert, 102, of Missoula, peacefully passed away at home in the early morning hours of September 5 with his wife Christiane by his side.

Paul loved life, people, and world travel. Born May 1921 near Dallas to Edward and Louise, Paul grew up in Bayside, Texas, where he and his close friend ‘Junior’ were widely known for their mischief. During the lean depression years, they shrimped and oystered, which put money in their pockets. Paul also loved to reminisce about the day-old baby chicks he mail-ordered from Sears & Roebuck to raise and sell as fryers. During this time, Paul had access to an older neighbor’s National Geographic magazines and it set in place a lifelong interest in the world and an insatiable appetite for travel. After graduating from Woodsboro High School and a short stint in the Texas oil fields, Paul moved to San Diego, California. A few days after Pearl Harbor, Paul signed up for the military and stayed for the duration of the war. In the Navy, he was plank owner (first crew) of three ships: 2 destroyers and 1 mine sweeper. He could tell hair-raising stories of combat activities out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to hold off ships of the Japanese Navy.

During the war, Paul married Patricia. They had two daughters, Barbara and Valerie. Paul spent much of his working life as a carpenter in the Monterey and Carmel area where he was popular as a neighbor, handy man and volunteer. His socializing and storytelling skills got him frequent invitations to champagne receptions at Highlands Inn. Ansel Adams, a neighbor, regularly called on him to build camera cases and also tasked Paul to convert a Carmel school into a studio for the Friends of Photography.

In 1981, Paul bought a 3-month Eurail pass and crisscrossed Europe by rail. While traveling in Spain, he met Christiane, a young woman from Germany. She was the love of his life and they spent 42 blessed years together. They clicked, sharing a passion for travel, gardening, bicycling, and the outdoors. After a couple of years in Germany, they spent several years in Moscow, Idaho. As a team they remodeled old houses, some of them close to demolition. And after working hard in summer, they spent winter months traveling the world on a shoestring: Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Turkey, and Morocco, to name a few.

In 1992, Christiane earned a PhD and a UM job offer brought the couple to Missoula. In Montana, Paul loved their joint outings to camp, raft, hot spring, and hunt for white tail does. Into his late 90s he could be found regularly riding his bike to the community garden, grocery stores, or Bayern Brewing. Most summers Paul and Christiane traveled to Europe to visit Christiane’s family. While Paul was U.S. born, he was the grandchild of German immigrants, and therefore 100% German. He relished his German ancestry, attested by a sizeable collection of beer steins, his Lederhosen and boiled wool jacket, and his love of dancing to waltzes and polkas at jams of the 5 Valley Accordion Association and the German Fest. In his late 80s and early 90s, Paul volunteered at numerous veteran funerals in the VFW 209 honor guard. Despite recent health challenges, nothing diminished his lust for life, enjoyment of people, and endless story telling. He was well loved by friends and neighbors. He was well cared for by Christiane, and in his last months by Libby and Kara, as well as Rebecca and Kristin, of Big Sky Hospice, and by Bonnie through the Veteran Directed Care program. Thanks goes to them and also to Paul’s previous physicians (Drs. Hutchins, Wright, and James) of Providence and his recent physician (Dr. Walker) and her team of the VA.

Paul is survived by his wife Christiane, his daughters Barbara (Kathy) and Valerie of Florida, granddaughter Tonia (Chris) and great-grandson Brendon of Texas.

There will be a service with military honors at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, 1911 Tower Street, on October 6 at 2.30 pm, to be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Garden City Harvest Community Barn, 1657 River Road. Friends are warmly invited to attend either celebration or both.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s name may be considered to the VFW Post 209, Garden City Harvest, the 5 Valley Accordion Association, or a cause of choice.