Paul Fitzgerald

Mr. Paul Fitzgerald, 63, of Tarrytown, Georgia, passed away at home on October 13, 2026, after an extended illness.

Paul was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 19, 1963. He moved to Traverse City, Michigan, in 1978 with his parents and 6 siblings. He stayed in the area until he moved to Southeast Georgia in 2019. The first thing Paul did after moving to Tarrytown was to build his 30 x 50 steel barn with his middle brother, Kenneth Fitzgerald, to use as his home shop.

A Plastic Injection Mold Maker and CNC Programmer by trade and a licensed residential builder in Michigan, he was always working on a project. Paul entered into business (American Die & Mold) with his father and later with his friend, Scott Flees. American Die & Mold was Paul’s life work. In his free time away from American Die & Mold, Paul and his cousin, Mike Fortier, partnered in a residential building company, Excellence in Properties, LLC (EIP) for several years. He was also a talented mechanic who could make a tool whenever he didn’t have the one he needed—and he passed that resourcefulness on to his sons, Sean and Tom.

Paul especially loved working in his home shop with his teenage sons, Sean and Tom, and restoring his 1969 Chevy Nova SS. Paul taught the boys how to install the entire engine block along with all of the wiring and necessary things as under the hood was empty when they began the project. It was a complete restore and now it runs and drives with that muscle car rumble. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and spending time with his sons. He loved traveling and especially enjoyed the national and state parks.

Paul attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Vidalia, Georgia. After graduation from St. Francis Catholic School in Traverse City, Michigan, Paul earned a diploma in Computer Aided Drafting from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan and completed the apprenticeship in the Tool and Die trade.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Helen Ann Schmitt and Robert James Fitzgerald; and his sister, Karyn Fitzgerald.

He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Dr. Julie Fitzgerald; two teenage sons, Sean and Tom Fitzgerald of Tarrytown, Georgia; two brothers, Kenneth Fitzgerald of Maple City, Michigan, and Dan Fitzgerald of Lake Ann, Michigan; three sisters, Ellen Kunisch and husband Chuck of Boon, Michigan, Annette Kandel and husband Ed of Maple City, Michigan, and Therese Steinebach of El Paso, Texas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 5:00 pm until 7:30 pm at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, Michigan. The Rosary will be held during the visitation at 7:30 pm

The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 beginning at 11:00am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Traverse City, Michigan.