Obituaries & Guestbook

It is with profound sadness that our family announces the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Paula Siefert (née Gotchy),on Thursday, May 11th at the age of 68.

Paula was born in Tomahawk, WI to her parents, Charles and Virginia Gotchy. Prior to moving to Sheboygan at the age of 10, her childhood in Minocqua included outdoor activities on her family’s homestead, shenanigans with her siblings, water-skiing, and picking raspberries with her Grandma.

She graduated from Sheboygan North High School in 1972. The highlight of the following year was the marriage to the love of her life, Steve. Paula enjoyed a career working for the Eastern Shores Library System, which included her joy of sharing the Bookmobile with library patrons of Sheboygan County and helping to create the magic of the Children’s Summer Reading Program. She was a proud member of the United Methodist Women’s group and served as an organizer of the Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival. Paula was an avid volunteer for anything her children were involved in, often encouraging others to join, and was an event planner extraordinaire! She loved planting her spring flowers and summer camping adventures. Paula truly found joy in life and we were lucky enough to witness her contagious smiles and laughter, her never ending energy, and her positive attitude. Along with Steve, she created an environment that was filled with love, encouragement, and support, not only for her children, but for friends of her children and anyone else that came into her life. As her saying went, “There is always room for another seat at our table.”

Paula will be dearly missed by her husband of 50 years, Steve; daughter, Courtney (Pete) Bartzen; son, Matthew (Jamie) Siefert; grandchildren, Oliver and Eleanor Bartzen; and the newest addition to the family, Clayton Siefert. She is further survived by her five siblings, Linda (Doug) Hardesty; David Gotchy; Gary (Mary) Gotchy; Mary (Al) Jentsch; Sarah (Tim) Goetsch; Mother-in-Law, Marjorie Siefert; brother- in- laws, David Siefert and Randy Siefert; close friends and partners in crime, Janet and Randy Poirier; nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Virginia Gotchy; father- in- law, Wayne Siefert; and sister-in-laws, Katy Gotchy and Michele Siefert.

A memorial service for Paula will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 623 Ontario Ave., Sheboygan with Rev. Cindy Thompson officiating. Family and friends may gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Lutheran Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established in her name. The family would like to thank the many loved employees of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center, Sharon S. Richardson Hospice Center, and the many family and friends that surrounded Paula and her family with love and support throughout the last twenty months.