What can we say about Paul Zeller?

Paul Matthew Zeller was born on November 3^rd, 1981.  He was the youngest of eight children and grew up in Westcliffe, CO; a town of about 417 residents, and is located approximately 150 miles south of Denver.

Paul was raised by his father and mother, Dwight and Lois Zeller, founders of the Sangre de Cristo Seminary near Westcliffe, CO.

Paul was a resident of Westcliffe for most of his life.  He attended Custer County schools and at one time, was educated by his mother while attending school at home.  He traveled to schools outside of the state as well; that is, until the year 2000, when Paul graduated high school in Amarillo, TX.

Paul loved the rodeo and while he didn’t ride the bulls, he enjoyed working as a rodeo clown, scaring the bulls away after they had “bucked off” their riders.

Paul was an easy-going, likeable guy who, according to his father, Dwight Zeller; a retired Navy Chaplain, made it a profession to be a Christian.

Many of Paul’s family members served in; or are currently serving in, the military, as did Paul.

Before his death, Paul served as a mortarman with the 82^nd Airborne Division in the U.S. Army from September 2001 to September 2004 before receiving an honorable discharge from the military.

During his years of military service, Paul became a decorated veteran of the Iraqi war.  Paul served in Operation Iraqi Freedom for a year, participated in the initial invasion of Iraq and was awarded the Medal of Commendation.

After his military discharge in 2004, Paul worked odd jobs in the Aurora, CO area for a couple of years before moving in with his sister, Lydia Robertson; a U.S. Navy Commander, and his brother-in-law, Chele Robertson; Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marines, in Arlington, VA.

Paul was a hard worker who spoke of returning to school.  He wanted to study computer science. 

Paul was a single, handsome, athletic individual, who was also very artistic and creative.  He loved to draw, go on hikes, listen to music, watch movies and play video games; Japanese animation was his primary interest.

Often, Paul walked his niece and nephew to school in the mornings on the way to work while living with his sister.

Paul worked late hours at the College Park Honda dealership in Maryland and commuted to and from work via the Metro.

One night, on his way home from work, Paul was murdered.  Police pronounced him dead at 12:06am on June 30, 2006 due to multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body in front of the World Market; Pentagon Row Shopping Center.

Paul was survived by his parents, Dwight and Lois Zeller (Westcliffe, CO), as well as his seven siblings; Joel Zeller (Fort Lupton, CO), Andrew Zeller; his wife, BethAnn (Westcliffe, CO), Rebecca Van Der Linden; her husband, Don (Worthington, MN), Lydia Robertson; her husband, Chele (Arlington, VA), Jerry Zeller; his wife, Kim (Aurora, CO), William Zeller; his wife, Katrina (Peyton, CO), Daniel Zeller (Westcliffe, CO).

Paul was laid to rest on Thursday, July 6, 2006 with private memorial services held at the Sangre de Cristo Chapel and burial to follow at Ula Cemetery near Westcliffe, CO.

Such a short life…  And the irony is simply overwhelming...

For the most part, we have overcome such animosity, but to think we are truly “safe” anywhere...  well, that’s just an exaggeration of the truth, isn’t it?...

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can; 

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next

Amen

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