Reverend Dr. Paul W. Devantier

Reverend Dr. Paul Walter Devantier, age 79, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was called to his eternal home in Christ on November 30, 2025. Born March 25, 1946, Paul lived a life devoted to his Savior, his family, and his calling to ministry. He was preceded in death by Walter Devantier (Father), Ella Devantier (Mother), Ruth (Sister), and Kathleen (Sister).

Paul was united in marriage to Ellen Devantier (née Stapel), his loving wife of 55 years. Together they were blessed with five children: Richard, John (wife Melissa), Andrew, Katie (husband Johnny) and Susie.  Paul was a proud grandfather to Jonathan, Christopher, Ella, Sam, Lucy, Imani, Iliza, Willa, Elijah, Aiden, Landon, and Matthias, who brought him immense joy and laughter. Paul and Ellen also welcomed more than 80 foster children into their home throughout their marriage.

During his career, Devantier was General Manager of KFUO and KFUO-FM in St. Louis, Missouri, and for 18 years was Executive Director of Communications for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.  While in this position, he supervised publications and radio and television efforts and developed the widely used Missouri Synod logo cross. He was also a Senior Vice President at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. 

Paul was the speaker on the internationally syndicated radio program, BY THE WAY, and President of BY THE WAY, Inc. He has been the only speaker on the program since 1974 and has provided messages for broadcast on many radio stations in the United States, through the Internet and through other means for more than 18,500 consecutive days. He authored five By The Way books.

A graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with a Master of Divinity Degree, he held a Masters Degree in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University and a Doctor of Letters Degree from Concordia University Nebraska. 

A strong advocate for adoption and foster care, Paul was privileged to be National Director of the Adoption Awareness Program headquartered in Washington, D.C.  This program, with activity in all fifty states, resulted from legislation passed by the U. S. Congress.

Paul successfully defended religious freedom in broadcasting in a nine-year case involving KFUO Radio. The case ended in a positive, landmark decision by the Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C. that affirmed religious freedom in broadcasting. The media productions he supervised received awards from the National Association of Broadcasters, Hollywood-based Excellence in Media, Religion Communicators Council, Associated Church Press, Telley Awards and others. He served as a script consultant for a teen pregnancy film that received the First Place Gold Camera Award at the U.S. International Film and Video Festival. The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities honored him for his media efforts on behalf of those with developmental disabilities. He led the successful $80 million “How Will They Hear?” Campaign of Concordia Seminary.  He was a guest speaker on The Lutheran Hour and President of Lutheran Film Associates.  Paul received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Concordia University Wisconsin. He and his family received the Outstanding Adoptive/Foster Parent award from the Adoption and Foster Care Coalition of Missouri and the “Friend of Adoption” award from the National Council for Adoption.

Paul is a native of Wausau, Wisconsin.  He and his wife, Ellen, lived in Minocqua, Wisconsin in semi-retirement where Paul was vacancy pastor at several LCMS congregations, including Rock of Ages in Minocqua and Faith in Mercer.

A funeral service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church (601 E. Glendale Ave, Appleton, WI 54911) on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM with visitation starting at 9:00 AM.  A burial at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery (N1660 Leafy Grove Rd, Merrill, WI 54452) will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM, meeting inside the church first. Friends and family are invited to gather in thanksgiving for Paul’s life and the promise of the resurrection at either or both of these services.

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