Paul Joseph Scobey

Paul Scobey passed away peacefully on February 29, 2024-- leap day-- at age 83, from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born April 3, 1940 to Mark and Agnes (nee Meehan) Scobey. Joyful, athletic and spiritual, Paul's ever-present smile and quick wit uplifted all who knew him. He was loved deeply by his family-- his wife of 56 years, Marianne (nee Balas) Scobey; and the couple's two daughters and their husbands, Annemarie and Bill Scobey-Polacheck and Maureen Scobey and Drew Ramsay. Paul loved spending time with his seven grandchildren-- Jacob, Liam, Teenasia and Jamilet Scobey-Polacheck and Malik, Maya and Marcus Ramsay. Paul was beloved by his sister Eileen (late Jim) Ronyak and his brother Mark (late Alice) Scobey. He will also be deeply missed by Marianne's siblings, Frank Balas and Barb (late Russ) Searing and his dear friend, Harry Polacheck. Paul was tickled to be an uncle to numerous nieces and nephews, and a great uncle to their children. He was loved by so many relatives and friends.  

Paul was born in Chicago and while he moved to Milwaukee at age 12, he kept his allegiance to the Cubs and Chicago-style hotdogs. Paul was a member of Saint Sebastian parish and graduated from Messmer High School and Marquette University. After he graduated, he was drafted and served in Korea. This past January, concerned that he might not make it to March Madness, he noted that he had hopes that after his death, the Marquette men's basketball team could once again win the national championship like they did in '77, the season after his own father died. 

Paul and Marianne married at Saint Sebastian, and then moved to Milwaukee's east side so they could be closer to his job in administration at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he worked for 33 years, retiring in 1999. Paul and Marianne were active members of Holy Family Parish. Paul had a heart for the underserved and volunteered regularly. He was constantly delivering donations around Milwaukee and also delivered Meals on Wheels twice a week throughout the past 25 years. He was a driver for Eras, where he volunteered driving elderly people to appointments. He also donated blood as often as possible. He and Marianne loved their road trips to Rhinelander to see his sister Eileen and her family; to Cincinnati to visit their daughter Maureen and her family, and to many national parks through the years. He had no fashion sense, so if you remember seeing him looking good, you can give a nod to Marianne, who kept an eye on things. Paul was an athlete who got better with age. He was captain of his St. Sebastian bowling league for more than 25 years. He took up distance running in his 40s and kept up several runs each week until he was well into his 70s. He participated in the senior Olympics, regularly medaling in his age group for softball and table tennis. Paul's defensive skills in table tennis were legendary, and his ranking meant that in tournaments he often played against people a generation or two younger. He beat them with a smile and complimented them when they got a point. Paul served on the board of Milwaukee Table Tennis Club. 

Paul's faith guided his life and he regularly practiced centering prayer for more than 30 years. He and Marianne often attended daily Mass together, moving their experience to online participation, and adding a daily rosary, when he became too weak to leave the house. It is perhaps this deep faith that nudged him to say to his family, several months before his death: "Maybe Leap Day would be a good day to die. I could leap into heaven." Early in the morning of February 29, he did just that, peacefully. We pray that he may now inspire us to leap along in the example he set.

We will celebrate Paul’s life at Holy Family Parish Church, 4825 N. Wildwood Ave, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, on Saturday, March 9, with visitation 12:30-2:00 p.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 2:00 p.m. and a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to either Capuchin Community Services 1702 W. Walnut St. Milwaukee, WI 53205 or Casa Maria Hospitality House 1131 N. 21st St. Milwaukee WI 53233.

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