Paul Anthony Deal, lovingly called Ampy by his friends and family, died peacefully in his sleep on March 5th, 2023, at the age of 57 after a long but gallant battle with cancer. He was born November 19th, 1965, in Lincoln, NE but spent most of his childhood in Council Bluffs, IA.

Growing up in Council Bluffs, Ampy was an active and outgoing youth. He was talented in piano, drums, vocals and even more talented at making friends with his laughter and brilliant personality. He entertained many with these talents throughout his school years performing in bands, choirs, plays, and musicals. He was often the star of any performance. After high school, he attended Iowa State University for three years before transferring to University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO), to finish his bachelor’s degree. After UNO he moved to Missouri for a brief time before relocating to the Chicago suburbs in 1994. He worked briefly at Motorola before accepting a job at Alltemated. He would go on to work at Alltemated until his retirement in 2022.

For Anthony though, his life truly began in 1994, after meeting his wife, Kim. He lived for his wife in every way possible, working hard to build a beautiful life together. The love and positivity that Kim and Anthony shared attracted people into their lives like moths to a flame and this love radiated off those they shared their life with. Anthony was, in the most fundamental sense, a family man. Anthony cherished the family he was blessed with, especially his nieces and nephews; Joey, Tim, Abby, Toni, Zachary, and AJ. Over the years, a myriad of friends, neighbors, and borrowed children (Ashley, Alena, and Ryleigh) grew to become his chosen family. Although he lived in a state apart from his biological family and opted not to have children, his home was never void of the love a family shares. For those who were blessed enough to know Ampy, their lives will forever be brightened and bettered because they loved him.

When Anthony wasn't spending time with his family and friends, you could find him tinkering on his motorcycles, reading his favorite Stephen King novel, tending to his garden, playing Legends of Zelda, or jamming out to his extensive music taste, anything from Rush to Five Finger Death Punch. In addition to all those things, Anthony was also an amazing fabricator. He never shied away from learning a new skill or taking on a new project. As much as he loved to learn, he loved teaching what he learned even more. He was always eager to take the time to pass his skills and knowledge on to the next willing participant. In fact, he relished being able to share his skills and hobbies with those close to him. One of his favorites being celebrating Halloween with those borrowed children of his. Whether it was dressing up as a sidekick, taking his annual haunted house trip, watching scary movies, or resisting the urge to decorate with skeletons and dragons in early August, he was always unapologetically himself and wasn’t afraid to share the goofier sides of himself with everyone around him.

Anthony passed in the same way he lived: on his own terms, surrounded by love, and making those around him smile, right up until the very end. He will be greatly missed.

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