Paul Mahacek

Paul Allen Mahacek, 73 passed away on December 18, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Paul was born on February 14, 1951, to Elizabeth Amadon and Edward Frank Mahacek in Omaha, Nebraska. Paul graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1973. At ASU, he met his wife, Karen Adele Coffield, in their freshmen English class. Married 51 years, they started out in La Habra, California, then spent 43 years in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2019, after retirement, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to be near their son and his family.

Paul worked for more than 40 years as a property claims adjuster, the last 20 years for the State of Arizona. He was very active in local Model A clubs in Arizona and Texas, serving as President of the Model A Restorers Club of Arizona for several years. He enjoyed tinkering on his two Model As and had recently put a new engine and air conditioning in one of them.

Paul never met a stranger. He is remembered fondly for his many stories – some true, some not. You could never be sure, and he kept his many friends as well as family wondering. Paul loved to travel and within the last year had visited Hawaii, Scotland, and San Diego, a favorite destination of his. Paul enjoyed a good cigar and started Cigars Under the Stars night in Phoenix with close friends. He began making cigar box guitars several years ago and had gifted several to friends and family. Paul was an avid bowler and had achieved a perfect 300-game a few times. He also once won the Greater Phoenix Bowling Association city-wide tournament championship.

Paul is survived by his wife Karen, son Marc and his wife Kelly, grandchildren Matthew and Ryan Mahacek and Rowan and Gavin Lavelle, sister Marjorie Navarro, brother-in-law Gary Kilbourn, and nieces and nephews Vicki and Dale Novak and their children Kayla and Luke, Debbie and Dennis Gage and their children Miles and Penny, and Adam and Tim and Sarah Snyder and their children.