L. James Paul

Jim Paul, 90, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2021. Jim was born and raised in Riverside, Illinois, and was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Ruth Pavlicek, and his sister, Ruth (Charles) Carroll. Jim attended  Riverside Grammar Schools and graduated from Culver Military Academy.  Jim married the love of his life, Phyllis Baltis Paul, in 1952. With a BS in  Chemistry, Jim graduated from Northwestern University in 1953 and was a  member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Upon his college graduation, Jim served our country as 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force at the end of the Korean War and was stationed in Madera, California. Once his service was completed, Jim enjoyed a career with his father-in-law as  General Manager of Baltis Built Homes from 1956 to 1986. Jim continued his general contracting business when he established James Paul &  Associates, Inc. then more recently, partnered with his sons in their commercial real estate development business. In 2008, Jim lost his beloved wife, Phyllis, to ALS after celebrating 56 years of marriage. 

Jim Paul was civic-minded and with Phyllis’ support, he was involved in his community. Jim served on the District# 96 Riverside Public School  Board and was one of the teams that led a successful Riverside-Brookfield  High School referendum. He served on the Board of Directors and  President of the Riverside Little League then became a District  Administrator in the State of Illinois. While he served as a Trustee for the  Village of Riverside, Jim was Police and Fire Commissioner. Among his many Village of Riverside Board accomplishments, Jim was responsible for bringing Lake Michigan water to the Village of Riverside. Jim belonged to the Riverside Golf Club and was a member of its Board of Directors then Club President. Jim and Phyllis shared fond memories of wintering at the Deerfield Manor Club in Deerfield Beach, Florida for which Jim served on its Board of Directors.  

Jim is survived by his six children: Deborah Stewart, Susan (Michael) Woerner, James (Ginger) Paul, William (Susan) Paul, Regina (Douglas) Fiala, Thomas (Dana) Paul.  

Jim was blessed with 19 grandchildren: Kathryn (Andrew) Whitlatch, Daniel  Kostelny, Carolyn M. Kostelny, Thomas Kostelny, Ashley (Frank) Parker,  Morgan (Jamie) Jones. Rebecca Woerner, Tyler Paul, Heather Paul (Shaun  Obarski), William (Jenny) Paul, Brett (Jeni) Paul, Zachary Paul, Trevor Paul, 

Anne (Ian) Dabrowski, Douglas Fiala Jr., Matthew (Jesse) Fiala, Lisa (Brad) Fiala, Maxwell Paul, Henry Paul, and 16 great-grandchildren: Thomas,  Daphne, Peter, Abraham, Marigold, Sam, Ellie, Brooks, Edith, Camryn,  Henryk, Jake, Valerie, Andrew, Tripp, Madelyn. 

Jim’s nieces and nephews include Sharon (Bill) Eklund, Kathy Herban,  Robert (Diane) Hutchison, Amy (Jim) Flynn, Timothy (Cindy) Hutchison  Denise (Kim) Roekamp, Fred (Jackie) Lindstrom III, Lisa Lindstrom, Walter  Lindstrom.

 In lieu of flowers, Jim’s family would appreciate your donation to  Catholic Charities at: donations@catholiccharities.net or Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago P.O. Box 7154, Carol Stream, IL 60197-7154 

Visitation is Thursday, December 9, 2021, at St. John of the Cross Catholic  Church, Western Springs, Illinois from 10 AM to 11 AM followed by the  Mass of the Resurrection from 11 AM to 12 PM. Interment will follow at Queen of  Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.  

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