Paul was born June 30, 1946, in Elmhurst, IL, the son of Roy and Gladys (Witmer) Hess. He married Maria Castillo on September 21, 1968, in Sterling. Paul was an integral and active community member in Whiteside County for many decades. He attended Taylor University, earning his bachelor’s degree. During college, he worked at the Dixon State School during the summers. While working there, he met his wife, Maria, who was also employed there. He began teaching and coaching at Coleta School for a few years. He then began teaching at Sterling High School, where he taught math and coached boys’ basketball, girls’ cross country, and girls’ track. After retiring from Sterling High School, he taught at Newman High School for a few years. He was inducted into the Sterling High School Athletic Hall of Fame for coaching in 2005 and again in 2011 as coach for the 1990, 1992, and 2000 girls’ track teams.
Throughout his career and retirement, he continued to live out his vocation of serving and mentoring others by volunteering in his community. He was the president of the Sterling Kiwanis club, former president and vice president at St. Vincent DePaul, and was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Sterling, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. Paul enjoyed woodworking and was an avid golfer.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Hess of Sterling; three daughters, Paula (Ken) Mullen of Kenosha, WI, Melissa Fitzgerald of Columbia, TN, and Tracy (Daniel) Rivera of Sycamore; two sisters, Carolyn (Dennis) Fritz of Dixon and Marianne (David) Johnson of Mendota Heights, MN; two brothers Allan (Pam) Hess of Dixon and Grant (Sandy) Hess of Waterman; one aunt, Alice Ebersole of Dixon; one brother-in-law, Gordon Boyd (Cheri Boyd); seven grandchildren, Michael Mullen, Nathan Mullen, Aidan Mullen, Tyler (Becca) Fitzgerald, Sarah (Austin) Freeman, Mary Rivera, and Maya Rivera; one great grandchild, Levi Fitzgerald; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Marcia Boyd; and one granddaughter, Megan Fitzgerald.
Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 4:30 PM at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls, followed by a visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sterling, with The Very Reverend James R. Keenan officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Sterling.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to …..St. Vincent DePaul, Rock River Hospice and Home, Sterling Kiwanis and St. Mary Catholic Church in Sterling.
