Paul Servais

Paul L. Servais (91), died peacefully on July 14, 2026. He was born on March 20, 1935 to the late Arthur Servais and Anne Servais (nee Dischler) on the family farm on St. Joseph’s Ridge, LaCrosse County, Wisconsin. He was the oldest of 6 children and one of hundreds of cousins, aunts, and uncles who also lived and worked on farms in southwest Wisconsin. He attended a 1-room schoolhouse on “the Ridge” where all 8 grades were taught together. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in the class of 1953.

Paul joined the priesthood following graduation and was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He later moved to St. James Parish in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. After 8 years as a Catholic priest, and after much reflection and prayer, he chose to leave the active ministry. Shortly thereafter, he met his future wife, Clare A. Bruns. They were married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 14, 1971. They settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 6 years. Following the birth of their 3 children, Julie, Stephen, and Mary, they moved to Jackson where they built their home, raised the kids, tended their gardens, and became part of a community.

Paul took great pride and responsibility in helping to provide for his family. He held various jobs throughout his career, perhaps the most meaningful being his final job as a salesman for Holton Brothers, a masonry restoration company in Grafton, Wisconsin. The job suited his outgoing personality and penchant for maintaining an active lifestyle. It wasn’t beneath him to roll up his sleeves to help out the crew on a job site.

Paul gave of his time freely and enthusiastically. He was very active in the lay ministry at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in West Bend, Wisconsin. He served on the parish council, sang in the choir, distributed Communion, and read at mass. Paul was elected to the role of Town Chairman for the town of Jackson, serving 2 terms. Later in life he volunteered to drive older community members to appointments.

He took full advantage of his retirement, spending a lot of time in “the shop” where he created furniture, cabinets, other wood-based crafts. These creations adorned not only his home, but also those of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed playing skat, a card game popular in Germany, with his old friends. A lifetime of playing sheepshead and cribbage continued until his final months. He especially enjoyed playing golf with Clare, not only locally, but while traveling with her around the Midwest. A generation of schoolchildren benefited from his strict discipline as he drove bus for the Johnson Bus Co. in West Bend, Wisconsin.

Family meant everything to Paul. He raised his children with a firm hand, plenty of sage advice, and lots of love. His grandchildren brought him immense joy and pride. He enjoyed

cheering them on at sporting events and listening to them play music. Paul presided over the holiday dinner tables and most Sunday evening casual dinners with family.

Once his work was done, Paul was able to relax. He took the family on many vacations, including trips to Hilton Head, Florida, New York, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He and Clare enjoyed their trips abroad to Germany, England, and their favorite, Italy. He was always open to meeting new people, striking up conversations (“Where are you folks from?”) with anyone and everyone.

His final 3 years were spent with Clare in a wonderful senior living facility in Muskego, Wisconsin. The friendships they made with the Dominican nuns brought Paul great joy.

Images of Paul from the past would include him in his hunting coveralls, in a woodworking apron covered in sawdust, sitting in a leather chair smoking a pipe, sipping a brandy Manhattan surrounded by lifelong friends, or holding hands with family around the dinner table offering a prayer of thanksgiving.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Everett, Everett’s wife, Maureen, his sister, Donna Clements, Donna’s husband, Lawrence, and his brothers-in-law, Myron Brockman and Stephan Barrett. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, John Bruns and sister-in-law, Sr. Mary Frances Bruns. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Clare, his children, Julie (Patrick) Schuster, Stephen (Ellen) Servais, and Mary (Jayson) Ayres. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dylan and Colin Schuster, Adele and Odin Servais, and Alexandra Jo Ayres. In addition, he is survived by his sisters, Emma Brockman, Barbara Barrett, and Veronica (Charles) Besch, as well as a sister-in-law, Judith Bruns.

Visitation will be held at OUR LADY OF LOURDES, 3722 S. 58th St., Milwaukee, WI on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. Paul will be interred on St. Joseph’s Ridge, LaCrosse, Wisconsin at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Franciscan Peacemakers in Milwaukee at https://franciscanpeacemakers.org/