Paul G. Eckert: A Legend of the Field, the Family, and the Next Great Adventure
November 18, 1945 – March 4, 2025

79 Years of Heart, Hustle, and Hallelujah

On March 4, 2025, the whistle blew for the final time for Paul G. Eckert, a man who didn't just live life—he officiated it with flair, faith, and a twinkle in his eye. Born on November 18, 1945, Paul packed his 79 years with enough grit, grace, hard work, and good stories to fill a stadium. He left us just shy of Opening Day, but not before leaving a legacy as vast as a Wisconsin sky.

Paul's story began with a call to serve. During the Vietnam era, he donned the uniform of an Army Intelligence officer, stationed in Germany, where his sharp mind and steady nerve helped keep the world in balance. From decoding secrets overseas to calling balls and strikes back home, Paul brought that same cool-headed courage to everything he did. After his service, he traded military maps for city blueprints, retiring after years with the City of West Allis Engineering and Water Departments. That was just his warm-up. A devout Catholic with a playbook rooted in kindness, Paul stepped up to the plate for his community and family time and again.

He swung for the fences as a player with the Oconomowoc Land O'Lakes baseball team, but it was his 50-year run as a WIAA official that made him a hall-of-famer in the hearts of Wisconsin's high school athletes. Football fields, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, softball pitches, volleyball nets, soccer fields—Paul ruled them all, officiating numerous state tournaments with the steady hand of a maestro and the spirit of a coach. The WIAA calls him a game-changer, a partner who turned dusty fields into proving grounds for young dreamers. And get this: he officiated a volleyball match the very day he traded his stripes for wings. That was Paul—always in the game.

For Paul, sports felt like family, and his family was everything. Picture this: last year, he stood behind the plate, umpiring his granddaughter Livi's Mukwonago High School game, grinning ear-to-ear as she shined. Then there was his grandson Brady, his protégé in stripes—together, they officiated games, swapping calls and stories, forging a bond tighter than a double play. Paul's whistle wasn't just for rules; it was a love letter to the next generation.

His greatest teammate was Laura Leitzke, his Oconomowoc High School sweetheart. They said "I do," and for nearly six decades, they danced through life's innings together. Their lineup grew to include daughters Renee Hisey and Anna Paradowski, son Paul L. Eckert, and a roster of all-stars: daughter-in-law Jessica Eckert (Opansky), sons-in-law Chris Hisey and Phil Paradowski. Grandchildren Danielle (Mercedes), Evan Hisey, Vincent Paradowski, Brady Eckert, and Olivia Eckert. His sister-in-law Mary Johnson (Jerry) and Sue Fulmer, Paul's siblings—John Eckert (Bunny), Therese Looysen (Bob), Camille Hamme (Steve), and Evelyn Eckert (Ron) Nieces and nephews, including Fr. Ben Johnson, Emily (Alex) Bell, Abby (Karl) Barth, Maddie (Dakota) Jensen, Meri and Sophie Johnson, Mike (Sally), Dan (Monica), David (Lori), Nicole (Jerad) Rades, Scott (Julie) Eckert, Jeff and Kevin Looysen, Eric (Elizabeth) and Marian Hamme, Kathie (Larry) Dowe, Terri Fulmer, Kris McDaniel, and many beloved family members & friends, rounded out his cheering section, always in his corner.

Paul wasn't just a man of the scoreboard. He taught kids chess, turning pawns into kings with Chess Scholars. His math skills boosted Dani and Evan's homeschool lessons. He manned the polls as a volunteer, ensuring every vote counted, and rallied retirees for breakfasts with the City of West Allis, brewing coffee and camaraderie. His life was a mosaic of small, mighty acts—each one a testament to a man who believed in showing up.

Paul lived by a motto that was pure him: "The only thing in life is the next thing." Whether it was the next mission in Germany, the next game, or the next laugh , He was all in.

In His Honor, skip the flowers and pitch in to "The Paul G. Eckert Scholarship Fund" to honor his legacy of supporting young athletes. Checks payable to: LOA, P.O. Box 4, Waukesha, WI 53187-2004 (in memo: c/o Paul G. Eckert) or Venmo: @mark-severson-1. The Lakeland Officials Association (LOA) of Waukesha and the WIAA salute him, and so do we, for a lifetime of hustle and heart on behalf of Wisconsin's youth.

Paul G. Eckert—soldier, husband, Dad, Papa, brother, umpire, mentor, and friend—didn't just play the game of life; he called it, shaped it, and made it unforgettable. Now, he's taken the field in a higher league, leaving us with a score sheet full of love and a standing ovation that will echo forever.

Visitation at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Ave., Waukesha, on April 5th from 10 AM - noon, Mass at noon.

Burial with full military honors rendered by American Legion Muskego Post 356 will take place on April 8th, 11 AM at SW Veterans Cemetery in Union Grove.