Paul Andre Gibault, 78, of Winter Park, Florida unexpectedly passed away on November 3, 2024. Paul was born on August 18, 1946, to Rachel and Paul Arthur Gibault.
Paul was one of six children. Paul and his family lived in Vermont while he was young and then moved to Indiana for a time. Paul and his family eventually settled in the Winter Park, Florida area. Paul lived his life seeing the good in everyone and helping anyone he could. Paul LOVED being the man behind the camera taking pictures!
While attending Bishop Moore High School Paul developed his love and talent of taking pictures while working on the yearbook staff at Bishop Moore. He loved his high school and the people he went to school with. Paul looked forward to class reunions with the Class of ‘67. Paul went on to join the Navy Reserves after high school. Paul met the love of his life, JoAnne Crapser of rural Mondovi, Wisconsin while he was stationed in the Virgin Islands as part of his Navy and JoAnne as part of the study abroad program, VISTA.
JoAnne was studying Spanish as part of her degree through the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. On June 10, 1972, Paul and JoAnne were married at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha, Minnesota where JoAnne was teaching. Paul and JoAnne raised a family of three children Ben Gibault of Mondovi, WI, Amy (Trieu) Nguyen of St. Anthony, Minnesota, and Anne Gibault of Adams, WI. Paul took a job he truly loved working at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Andre was the local “floater” custodian who got to fill in for anyone who was gone. Andre loved visiting with staff and students at UW-Eau Claire. He worked the late shift and always watched out to make sure his kids got home safely in the snowy, winter months.
He was an active member of Valley of the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Mondovi. Andre loved picking blackberries, fishing, and making wine. Andre and his family rescued numerous dogs and cats that needed homes. He loved his dogs Kelly and McDuff. He also enjoyed doing woodworking projects and even built his kids a log cabin playhouse in the front yard of his Mondovi home. Paul spent his life photographing quiet moments. Paul had a talent for capturing candid shots. He always had a camera (or 3) wherever he went.
Paul loved meeting new people and talking to anyone. He was generous and helped anyone he could. Paul had a dear friend, Wayne, whom he went on many adventures with. Paul moved back to Winter Park, Florida after the death of his wife, JoAnne. Paul and Wayne spent many days fishing on the St. John River.
Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Rachel Gibault, his father, Paul Arthur Gibault and his sister Bernadette (Nick) Gibault Francisco and his young daughter, Angel Amy.
Survivors include Marie (late Frank) Gibault Lorenzo of Winter Park, Florida, Marc Gibault of Winter Park, Florida, Denise (Harold) Gibault Early of Winter Park, Florida, and Gerard (Nancy) Gibault of Dundalk, Maryland. He has two grandchildren that he was very proud of Miles and Xavier Nguyen of St. Anthony, Minnesota. Paul loved all of his nieces and nephews and enjoyed doing projects with them. He always loved giving advice, sharing trivia, or trying to fix something!
A memorial service will be held at Robert Bryant Funeral Home in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a service to follow at 12:00 p.m.