SALIDO, CO/SPARTA-Paul Douglas Carey, 63, passed away on Wednesday February 14, 2024 in Salida, Colorado.
Paul was born in Chicago, Illinois to Shirley (Weise) and Andrew Carey on October 6, 1960.
Paul grew up in Sparta, Wisconsin and attended Sparta Schools; at a young age he took an interest to basketball and track. He pursued both sports throughout high school and graduated with the class of 1979. He then attended UW Richland Center, Richland Center, Wisconsin, where he excelled in Basketball.
UW Richland is where he met and later married Julie Kraska. To this union a daughter Sarah Marie, Paul’s pride and joy, was born on August 2, 1982. Paul and Julie later divorced.
Paul loved adventure and had many interests. Paul was a music lover of all kinds! Most recently listening to a lot of Pearl Jam, Pokey Lafarge, Metallica, King Fish, Ryan Bingham and the Foo Fighters. Paul was Colorados #1 Packer Fan who visited Lambeau numerous times for games and tailgating! Paul was infamous for snarky comments and dry humor, along with an eye for pretty women!
Paul traveled for several years working for Disney on Ice, which allowed him to explore all over the world, including Paris, London, Belgium, Thailand, Holland, and Hong Kong, to name a few. He also traveled throughout the majority of the states! He had a strong interest in working with his hands building things and landscaping with many showcase projects in his portfolio. He was able to move to Georgia doing landscaping for Cardinal Glass, with his buddy Jerry Beranek. His adventurous soul and eye for detail, eventually took Paul to the place he most recently loved and called home, for the past 24 years, Salida, Colorado. He owned and operated Cornerstone Landscape. Paul was a critical thinker with an eye for detail which made him a sought after landscaper throughout the Salida area. With skillful hands, Paul created amazing artwork, designing breath taking water features, gardens, arranging plants and shrubbery with his unique architectural style. Having the opportunity to work for many influential people and businesses. Always the curious one, he then purchased a food truck and began a side business called 14ers Wieners…representing the mountain peaks surrounding Salida, Co and serving midwestern food products such as Sprechers Soda, Bratwurst, Chicago Style Hot Dogs, and his famous Philly Cheese Steak.
Paul’s pride and joys in life were his daughter Sarah, and grandkids Keegan and Khyla. He and Sarah shared a huge love for the Green Bay Packers and music. They were able to spend quality time at Lambeau Field and attending many concerts and listening to musicians playing in local mountain towns.
Paul was diagnosed with an incurable genetic lung cancer four years ago, that he controlled until he earned his angel wings. He now has the opportunity to drink a Budweiser with his mom and dad and perhaps get a lecture from his dad that he should have sold Wisconsin cheese on the food truck!
Paul is survived by his beautiful daughter Sarah and her husband, Nick Swenson of Wilton, as well as the most amazing grandkids, Keegan and Khyla Carey, and bonus grandkids, Aubree and Dominick Swenson.
Paul is further survived by his loving sister Jean (Jim) Bardeen of Norwalk, brother Phil (Kathy) Carey of Leland, NC, nephew Jarrid (Leigh) Bardeen of Tomah, nephew Ryan (Kara) Carey of Denver, CO, Aunt Sheila Carey of Mundelein, IL, and numerous family members in Scotland and England, his very special friends, Bill (Donna)Schmitz of Green Bay, Kurt Koepp of Madison and former sister-in-law, Jan Carey of Salida, CO, and many dear cousins, friends and former employees.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Shirley Carey, nephew Collin Carey, his uncle John Carey, his aunt and uncle Yvonne and Edward Weise Jr, and his beloved dog, Sadie Mae Packer.
Family and Friends are invited to call at Lanham Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, from noon until 2pm, Saturday March 2, 2024. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com
Funeral services will be held following visitation at 2pm with Pastor Bob Streeter officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Following the burial a gathering will be held at The Zone, Hwy 21, Sparta. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers and plants to establish a memorial in Paul’s memory.
“Some of its magic, some of its tragic, But I had a good life all the way”
~Jimmy Buffett
Lanham Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation
