Dr. Paul Kradel

He is survived by Eileen as well as his 3 kids, Katrina Mills (Milton, MA), Joseph (Jay) Kradel (Fayetteville, AR), and Jeffrey Kradel (Seattle, WA) and his son-in-law Peter Mills (Milton, MA). In addition, he was survived by his much loved grandkids Mackenzie (Falmouth, MA), Claire (San Francisco, CA) and Madeline Mills (New York, New York), Fletcher Kradel (Seattle, WA), and Ellis Kradel (Fayetteville, AR). His brother Jim (Atlanta, GA) and numerous nieces and nephews whom he cared deeply about.

Paul was an OB/Gyn in Fort Smith for over 40 years. He and Eileen moved to Fort Smith in 1973 and together brought innovations such as Prepared Childbirth, Natural Childbirth, and having the fathers as participants in deliveries. I don’t have a number for how many deliveries he did at St. Edwards (now Mercy), but it was well over 1000. Many times he delivered the babies of people he had delivered years before.

Paul was highly respected for his skill as a physician. His greatest traits in that role were compassion, empathy, and the ability to listen. He believed strongly that being someone’s doctor was a privilege. He spoke often of providing good service and doing it with a “Servant’s Heart”. In this he was wildly successful.

In his private life Paul loved basketball and his family, hopefully not in that order. He felt most at home at the lake. He had questionable fashion sense. In particular, he bought shoes for comfort and it showed. He also adored vests. Like, really adored them. He had a closet full. He would extoll each vest’s virtues, pointing out the many handy pockets they contained. He especially liked a “hidden” pocket or two. He was well prepared if ever called on to become a spy.

Paul was renamed “Poppie” when he became a grandfather and he loved that role. He could not possibly love anything more than he loved his 5 grandkids. His greatest joy was knowing them and spending time with them. He would have done anything for them.

He was the bedrock and foundation of our family. Without him we all feel lost. Our lives have lost their anchor. It will be a difficult, maybe impossible, adjustment.

He led a beautiful life, filled with people that he cared for deeply. Perhaps his quiet superpower was that everyone he came in contact with knew, without a doubt, how much he cared. He was there and believed in you when you needed it most. The best thing that can be said about a person is that they had a good, long run and that their memories can be a blessing beyond what they could have imagined. His life embodies this.

He leaves behind a legacy of people who will forever feel the warmth of his unconditional love. Paul did not want a service when he died. He was adamant about this. He didn’t wish to be mourned. He wished to be remembered by his actions and by the people whose lives he touched. I am quite sure this wish will be granted. He told his granddaughter that he was coming back as a blue jay. So keep an eye out.

Thank you all for your kindness.