Paul Stephen Schaus

Paul Stephen Schaus (Steve), 78, Boise, Idaho, passed away October 21, 2025 in Boise. He was comforted by family members during his passing.

Born November 26, 1946 in Everett, Washington to Paul Henry and Romaine Rayhill Schaus.

     Steve grew up in Snohomish, Washington, with three siblings. He excelled as a student, eventually choosing to attend Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and then Columbia University in New York City to study Engineering.

     In his first year at Columbia, he met the love of his life, Ellen Feeney, on a blind date at a Columbia University football game. Two summers later, they married on June 7, 1969, in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. The couple lived in New York until Steve graduated from Columbia with a Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering (to go along with his Bachelor of Arts from Whitman and a Bachelor of Science from Columbia).

    Steve accepted a job at Westinghouse which took the young couple to Baltimore, Maryland, where they started a family—a daughter, Noel, born in 1971 and a son, Jeff, born in 1973. Along the way, Steve added a Master’s of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.

     The family relocated to Richland, Washington, in 1976, where Steve continued to work for Westinghouse (and several other contractors) as an Engineering Manager at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Before he retired, he was working in Nuclear Waste Management. In Richland, Steve served on several boards, including the YMCA, and developed a love for soccer officiating and travel. All in all, Steve and Ellen traveled to six continents, enjoying food and wine along their journeys together.

     After retiring, Steve and Ellen moved to Boise in 2008, to be nearer their grandchildren, Berit and Leo. “Papa” became a Master Gardener and provider of vegetables to family and friends throughout Boise. His love of service and education led him to the Learning Lab where he volunteered countless hours to tutoring others. A warm heart, a quick smile and a long story, were hallmarks of Steve who was loved by all who knew him.

     Steve is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughter, Noel of Mesa, AZ; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Amanda of Boise; grandchildren Berit and Leo; brother Jon (Dee), Itasca, IL; sister Faith Waschke (Dave), Bellingham, WA; sister Margaret Schaus (Jim Noonan), Bend, OR; nine nieces; nine nephews; and countless cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

      A Celebration of Life will be held on June 6, 2026. Memorial donations may be made in Steve’s name to the Learning Lab (learninglabinc.org) 308 E 36th St. Boise, ID 83714.