Paul Martin Bodmer

Paul M. Bodmer, of Richland, passed away on January 26, 2017 at the age of 71.  Born of goodly parents, H. Carl Bodmer and Lucille Johnson Bodmer in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 28, 1945, Paul was the second of three sons (Robert and David).  Paul was raised in Richland and later, Grandview, where he graduated high school in 1964.  Paul attended Brigham Young University for two years before serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in France and Belgium.  When Paul returned home from his mission after nearly three years of service, he resumed his studies at BYU, where he met his future bride, Gerene Cope.  Paul and Gerene were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on December 19, 1969.  Paul graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and later received his Master’s degree from NOVA University.

Paul and Gerene had four children.  Paul is survived by his beloved wife Gerene Cope Bodmer; his daughter Melissa and her husband Jason Decker; his son Christopher and his wife Amy Oler; his son Benjamin and his wife Mindy Phillips; his daughter Emily and her husband Kallen Kidder.  His thirteen grandchildren loved their Papa Paul and his playful and witty disposition.

Paul’s meticulous nature and analytical way of thinking served him well in his career as a project manager at Hanford, where he worked for thirty plus years before retiring.  Paul was known as a kind and gentle man, who was always service oriented.  In addition to many various church service opportunities, including Bishop of the Grandview ward, Paul was civic-minded and involved in his community.  Paul was a volunteer firefighter and an elected city council member in Grandview.  Paul influenced countless lives while working with young people in various capacities, including Boy Scouts of America, in various church youth group programs, and during another full-time mission with Gerene in the Kennewick, Washington Mission. 

Paul’s hobbies included tinkering with electronics stuff, woodworking, stained glass art, and photography.  He had a unique view of the world and was able to capture beauty in otherwise seemingly ordinary things.  His uncanny ability to find symbolism of deeper meanings in nature could be found in his photographs, talks, and blog posts.  Before being plagued with health challenges later in his life, Paul loved hiking, camping, and just about anything to do with outdoors.  Paul enjoyed traveling (especially when it involved seeing his far-flung children and grandkids), singing in choirs, and reading.

Paul’s funeral services will held at the LDS Kennewick Stake Center (the Gage Building) 968 Gage Boulevard, Richland, Washington on Wednesday February 1^st at 1:00 PM.  A viewing will be held from 12:00 to 12:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the General Missionary Fund of the LDS church, the American Heart Association, or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Proverbs 3: 5-8