Lyle J. Paulin

Lyle Paulin of Sheboygan, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on April 10, 2023 at the age of 92. He was surrounded by family and friends during his final days.

Lyle was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, to Ervin and Melma (Keller) Paulin. He grew up with brothers Russell and Gerald, attending St Mary's Grade School, and Port Washington High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.

He married his beloved wife Estelle (Schueller) Paulin in 1963, and they spent the next 59 years building their life together, along with their two children (Lisa and Michael). Lyle enjoyed a career working as a developer, building many homes in and around Belgium, Wisconsin. He put in a subdivision that included extending Michael Street and adding Lisa Circle.

In his spare time Lyle enjoyed working several labors of love over the years. No project was too big for Lyle. He once brought home a series of boxes, filled with various parts and pieces. Lyle restored them into a mint condition, working automobile - a 1917 Dodge Brothers Touring car. He enjoyed sharing his car with others, giving rides, taking it to car shows, and driving in local parades.

Lyle was also a talented woodworker, who could take scrap lumber and craft it into beautiful works of art to share with his family. Some of the pieces he created included swinging outdoor gliders, Adirondack chairs, and amazing Christmas creches.

After he retired, Lyle and Estelle spent 13 years calling Murray, Kentucky home, where they met countless wonderful friends and neighbors, making life-long memories, before returning to Wisconsin to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Lyle accomplished many things and held many different titles during his life, but his favorite role was being a father. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was always there for them to provide advice, encouragement, and support. He loved to pitch in and help with their home improvement projects. He enjoyed helping so much, he would often go out of his way to find things he thought they should fix. He was usually right.

Lyle was devoted, generous, kind-hearted, thoughtful, and would do anything to make those around him happy. He took great joy in life's simple pleasures. Among his favorite things to do were to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and "shoot the breeze" with family and friends. He was a regular at Johnston's Bakery for coffee and a sweet roll. He enjoyed being outdoors riding his bike or scooter, or just sitting on the porch with his dog by his feet (or sometimes, in his lap). He loved a good meal. He was a meat and potatoes kind of guy, who enjoyed everything "well-done." Every time he fired up the grill he would say "when it's smoking it's cooking, when it's burnt it's done!" He did his best to avoid foods he felt were too exotic, like tacos, which he felt never had enough meat. Although he may not have embraced a flair for adventure when it came to food, he was always an optimist and a dreamer who was always making plans or coming up with ideas for all he wanted to do. He continued to look forward and make plans right up until his final days. 

He is survived by his loving wife Estelle (Schueller) Paulin, daughter Lisa (Bill) Kovalcik, son Michael (Kelly) Paulin, grandchildren Alek and Ben Kovalcik, Elizabeth Grunert, bonus grandchildren Kyana Sabelko, Kyle (Brittany) Sabelko, bonus great grandchildren Myles and Briella Sabelko, and his beloved Golden Retriever, Max. He was preceded in death by his parents Ervin and Melma (Keller) Paulin, brothers Russell and Gerald (Donna) Paulin. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A Memorial Mass for Lyle will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, 822 New Jersey Avenue in Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081 with Father Paul Fliss officiating. Family will greet visitors on Friday AT CHURCH from 10:00 AM until the time of mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association or the Saints Cyril and Methodius Building Fund.