Paul Christian

Paul Fay Christian, age 54, Mount Carroll, IL, formerly of Pinole, California, died Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 at his home in Christian Court on “Dog Run”.
Paul was born on March 20, 1959, in Deaconess Hospital, Freeport, Illinois to Herbert Owen and Daisy Amanda (Wilson) Christian of Mount Carroll.
He attended school in Mount Carroll and in Lajas, Puerto Rico, graduating high school from Academia San Luis. Paul was a chemical staff specialist in the army as a Private Second Class from 1977-1979 until being honorably discharged. He started his career at Chevron in 1981 in Richmond, CA. Paul was a recipient of the prestigious Chairman's Award before retiring at age 40 as a senior research chemist.
Paul subscribed to Jack London's philosophy that “the proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” Paul would “rather be ashes than dust. He would rather his spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled” and so he left a Fortune 500 company to follow his own path as a master walker. He often said his doberman saved his life because Paul controlled a prediabetic condition with diet and exercise by walking Dobie at Point Pinole. He remained in the San Francisco Bay area with wife Cindy until his move to Seattle, Washington, when they divorced. In December 2009, he “rode a slow pony home” to Mount Carroll, the starting and ending point of his too short life.
He was an active and enthusiastic volunteer on behalf of the Mount Carroll Township Public Library as a Master Gardener and he served as President and Vice President on the Board of the Carroll County Historical Society where he was a life member. He was proud of his family's deep roots in Carroll County which trace back to 1838. Paul was a third generation member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
He was an avid photographer, genealogist, ham radio operator (KN6OJ), hiker, fossil hunter, kite flyer and star gazer: Paul saw the Mifflin Meteorite in 2010 and said it lit up Main Street. He could fix almost anything but was fond of saying, “No job is too hard for those who don't have to do it!”
Like his mother, who had managed Timber Lake Restaurant, Paul was a talented chef. He often quoted his father at dinner time saying, "I wonder what the peasants are eating," meaning the meal he'd made was fit for a king.
He will be remembered for his love of nature (certifying as a master gardener and naturalist in 2013), his passion for learning, his generosity, and unique sense of humor. He was a self-described social liberal and fiscal conservative. Paul was an original thinker, but most important of all, what he was, was loved.
A favorite quote of Paul's was “Life is bookmarked by two dates, birth and death; you choose neither. Stop fooling yourself. Now is the time to live.”
Paul was predeceased by his parents and grandparents, Laura (Gillogly) and Fay Freed Christian, and best friend Jim Weissmiller. He will be greatly missed by fiancée, Penny (Bess) Thacher and good friend, Bob Warfield. He is also survived by ex-wife Cindy Christian, sister, Sara Tucker; brother Eric (Christiane) Christian; three nieces, Beth Lindler, Jenny and Laura Charles; and nephew Jens Christian.
Cremation rites have been accorded by Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mount Carroll. Paul joined his beloved grandmother and family in Oak Hill Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made in his name to the Frances Wood Shimer Memorial Arboretum – 203 E Seminary St, Mount Carroll IL 60153.