Bradley Wayne Paulson

September 8, 1955 – May 25, 2024

Brad Paulson, late of Wichita, Kansas and Melbourne, Arkansas, was born in Lisbon, North Dakota on September 8, 1955 to Maurice and Genevieve Paulson. He is survived by his devoted wife of 22 years, Carol Hammon Paulson; his son Ariel; mother Genevieve; brothers Stephen and Roger; sister Nina; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his father Maurice and his sister Kari.

Brad attended public schools in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and suburban Chicago, Illinois. He completed his high school education in three years, graduating from Downers Grove North High School in 1972. He obtained a degree from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, before embarking upon a multifaceted career that defied categorization.

In an age of increasing specialization, he was that rare exception: a polymath, a true Renaissance Man. He would assume the intellectual challenges of a given field, master the requisite skills, and—satisfied with his accomplishments—move on to meet the demands of a fresh field of endeavor.

Early in his career he worked as a studio photographer for a catalog house in Chicago. From there he pursued work in building maintenance and by the age of 24 found himself in the role of chief building engineer of a 30-story high-rise building in the downtown Gold Coast district of Chicago during its conversion from residential apartments to a luxury hotel. He left such work to play bass guitar in a touring rock band.

A musician from a very early age, he composed his first pieces at age four, performing them at the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs at the age of five.  He was a multi-instrumentalist, exceling at piano, cello, and flute (in addition to the bass guitar). Along with his father, sister, and brother, he played bagpipes with the Kilties Band of the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, which won multiple state awards during the Paulsons' time there. He briefly portrayed a piping troubadour at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in southern Wisconsin. In later years, he composed music of a therapeutic nature, work that listeners described as exceptionally moving and profoundly healing.

Following his stint as a bassist, Brad mastered several building trades, being a licensed electrician and plumber before establishing with a business partner a commercial construction and remodeling business. Through that line of work, he became fascinated with building codes—especially the logic justifying the various code specifications and requirements—and soon became a code official and building inspector representing various municipalities in the suburbs of Chicago. Having proved himself as president of Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), he was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to a panel tasked with rewriting codes for statewide adoption.  He later developed a national course on building codes that he taught for Underwriters Laboratories through their Northbrook, Illinois headquarters.

He was instrumental in the 2001 establishment of the Ruthie Mountain Fire Department in rural Izard County, Arkansas, participating in early formation meetings and writing the fire department's bylaws. He was a firefighter, first responder, and trained in rescue.

Brad's interests were many-faceted and included issues associated with bettering health practices in diverse areas.  He consulted on governmental policy changes at the state level for improving standards of practice for midwives in Arkansas.

Brad had a healing touch and performed deep-tissue massage through Ida Rolf's Structural Integration Method, among other modalities. He was a gifted body worker, firm and gentle, who could perceive and manipulate subtle energies to bring about emotional, as well as physical, healing in those who sought his care. In Wichita, he and his wife Carol (PhD, DMin, APRN-BC) established the Tropos Therapeutic Center, a leading-edge holistic care center for body-centered and emotional healing. The two of them served on the board of directors of the nonprofit Council Grove Conference, an annual gathering dedicated to the study of consciousness.

His creative expression found many outlets: he was especially fond of lapidary work, cutting and polishing semiprecious stones and fashioning jewelry, with stones set in silver or other metals. He worked in stained glass and painting, as well.

He was adored by family and friends, having maintained close relationships with nieces and nephews, teaching welcome lessons of peace, love, and connection, all by his personal example. He was known for the loving warmth of his embrace and the wisdom of his words.  He listened both from his mind and his heart.  One often left a conversation with him feeling fully seen and heard, lifted by the equanimity of his being.  He was a profoundly spiritual man who lived with compassion and grace for all.

Brad was deeply connected to nature and had a sensitivity to all living things.  He cherished the earth and the balance of life that it so delicately holds.

Brad Paulson was courageous in speaking truth, less concerned about what people thought of him than he was about helping them to awaken their own understanding. A perceptive and insightful visionary, he saw the need to restore the world to a place of peace and beauty imbued with consciousness, all while he diligently honed his own awareness. While he was deeply spiritual and compassionate toward others, he had a wicked sense of humor and found delight in pointing out the absurdity of the world we live in. He was kind to all and his generosity was expansive. Whatever obstacles or adversity he came to face from time to time, he maintained an open-hearted approach to life and understood the inviolable supremacy of love.