WICHITA — Paul Leroy Skolaut, 89, was called to God on February 18, 2019.

He is survived by his best friend, wife, lover and partner, Mary Ann Carney Skolaut; six children, Mary Birch, Terri Lees (David), Kathi Shaw, Paul Michael Skolaut (Kala), Connie Kisinger (Kirk) and Krista Morrissey (Steve); 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; his sister, Gladys Roller; sisters-in-law, Beverly Skolaut, Sheila Skolaut; and many loving in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He goes to join his parents, siblings, daughter, Angela, grandson Nate, son-in-law Mike Shaw.

Paul was born in Hoisington in 1930, was a Wichita East graduate, a University of Kansas graduate with an Industrial Engineering degree, an ROTC graduate and a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member. Upon graduation Paul married the love of his life Mary Ann Carney. He served in the United States Navy as a 2nd Lieutenant JG gunnery officer aboard the USS Brown in the early 1950s. He returned to Kansas where he moved his family to Great Bend to work in the oil industry until 1969 when he and his business partner wife purchased Hutchinson Pizza Hut. Over the next 21 years they added Emporia and Salina Pizza Huts to their small family business. They sold those in 1990 and retired. They had worked hard all their lives and never had anything or did anything. We are very blessed that they had many years to enjoy their retirement, always together. They moved back to Wichita in 1974 and were very involved in their church and the community.

Paul Skolaut was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, businessman, and friend. He was baptized into the Catholic faith and remained faithful to God throughout his life. He was a quiet, kind gentlemen and a man of great humility. His philanthropy and giving nature was intentionally quiet and unnoticed. He was a loving sweet man and good human.

There will be a rosary on Friday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will be held at the church on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, the Lord’s Diner and Guadalupe Clinic. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Downing & Lahey East Mortuary

6555 E. Central

Wichita, KS 67206

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 20, 2019