Paul J Jaeger

MONONA/MADISON/VERONA - Paul Joseph Jaeger, age 72, passed away on August 19, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and a year-long battle with esophageal cancer. Paul was born January 11, 1945, in Milwaukee. He was raised in Monona and attended Immaculate Heart Elementary and Monona Grove High School. Paul excelled in academics, and developed a lifelong passion for playing percussion. Upon enrolling in Marquette University in 1963 to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Mathematics, he quickly became a highly sought-after drummer for a number of professional bands and performers, which largely funded his college education.  In the summer prior to his senior year, he met his wife, Susan (McCabe). Paul graduated Cum Laude from Marquette in 1967, and on August 2, 1969, Paul and Susan were married at St. Thomas More Church in Chicago. Three children would later follow - Ed, Jeanne, and Mark. Paul worked briefly for the FDIC before returning to Madison to earn a Master’s degree from The Wisconsin School of Business. During this time he also taught for the school and developed a deep love for his Badgers. In the midst of his graduate studies, Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army. Highly praised for his mathematical prowess, Paul served at Fort Riley, Kan., as a senior accountant. He was proud to have coached fellow soldiers prior to taking their aptitude and military placement tests.  Following his military service, Paul returned to Madison to complete his Master’s and was hired at Arthur Young Accounting in Chicago. After taking the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) exam, Paul received the Elijah Watt Sells Award, given exclusively to the highest first-time exam scores in the country.  Paul and his family returned to Madison in 1975, where he was charged with building the tax businesses at Smith & Gesteland. Paul was named a partner in 1977 and continued to grow his career and the firm’s sizable tax practice. He was exceptionally proud of his 36-year career at Smith & Gesteland and was featured in Madison Magazine as a top accountant in Dane County. A passionate professional and believer in giving back, he also led tax workshops and continuing education courses for attorneys and other professionals in the area, and was generous in sharing accounting and tax advice with anyone who asked. Soon after his retirement in 2010, Paul was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite this prognosis, and with the support of his loving family, Paul masterfully re-engineered his golf swing, bonded with his family and four grandkids, boisterously cheered on his Badger Basketball team, and re-discovered his love of Spotted Cow beers sipped around the fire in Green Lake. Since 1997, Paul and his family have helped organize and march in the Annual Madison St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and were named Irish Family of the Year in both 2008 and 2017. Paul was honored to have served as St. Patrick in the parade on a number of occasions. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Jaeger. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Susan; daughter Jeanne Lucht (Ken); two sons Ed (Kristine) and Mark (Chandra); siblings Robert (Nancy), Joan Beimler (Russ) and Jane Jaeger Zinda; grandchildren Colin Lucht and Grace, Finn, and Olive Jaeger; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Paul’s family would like to express their grateful appreciation to the Verona Senior Center, Senior Helpers, and the incredible Orange Team at Agrace Hospice, in particular Ashley and Beth. We would also like to thank the University of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Study. Paul was passionate about participating in numerous Alzheimer’s studies, and his final commitment was to donate his brain to the University of Wisconsin to aid further research and end this debilitating condition for future generations.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Verona Senior Center, and the Madison St. Patrick’s Day parade. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, at 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, and also on Wednesday, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com