Petersburg Pilot -

Paul Anthony Kavon was born in Pewaukee, Wisconsin on September 26, 1958, the son of Martin and Ruth Kavon.

His lifelong love of fishing was born at the end of the family pier on the shore of Pewaukee Lake with his dad by his

side.

While still in grade school, after the death of their father, Paul and his older sister Renee moved to live with their uncle and his family on their ranch in Plentywood, Montana.

Having obtained the lifelong nickname of "PK," Paul graduated from Plentywood High School with the class of 1976. He attended Montana State University, first in Bozeman and later in Missoula, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

While still in college, Paul began working summers in Alaska, first in the oil fields and later commercial fishing out of Petersburg. In 1986, he took up residence in Petersburg to pursue a full-time career in commercial salmon fishing as skipper of the F/V Dorothy Jean. 

In 1989, Paul met and married Camille Despain. They had three children in Petersburg before the family moved from Alaska to Oxnard, California in 2002 where Paul transitioned his fishing operation to the coastal pelagic fisheries along California's southern coastline. A few years later he left the fishing industry to manage a fuel dock for fishing boats in the Ventura Harbor.

Paul never lost his passion for fishing and recently resumed commuting from his home in Oxnard, California to commercial fish in Alaska during the summer months, working under Captain Joe Cisney on the F/V Legacy. On August 1 went to his eternal home while doing what he loved best, commercial fishing near Petersburg, Alaska.

Paul was quick to smile or chuckle and could engage anyone in a good fish story. He is dearly remembered.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his beloved children Tanner (Ashley and son Danté) Kavon, Sierra Cortez, and Hayden Kavon; his sister, Renee (Gary Jacuk); and his former wife, Camille Despain.

Following Paul's cremation there will be a family memorial celebration in Petersburg, Alaska followed by a burial at sea ceremony in Ventura, California. Paul will be honored with a plaque at the Bojer Wikan Fisherman's Memorial Park in Petersburg at a later date.