Dr. Paul Krautter

Paul Marsh Krautter passed away peacefully at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 5th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 70 years old. He fought courageously against adenocarcinoma of the lung for three years.

Paul was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on November 28th, 1954 to Alice Anne Krautter and Eugene Frank Krautter. Paul is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brother, Frank Krautter. He is survived by his twelve children, Lacey, Caleb, Lisanne, Lydia, Christian, Lyrica, Liesl, Lark, Campion, Linnea, L’aria, and Lilian, by the mother of his children, Wendy Fore, by his grandchildren, Aria and Preston Giuliano, by his sister, Louise Fell, and by his niece and nephews.

Paul graduated with honors from Richardson High School in Texas before completing a triple major in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at Rice University. Feeling a divine call to medicine, he achieved a score in the 99th percentile on the MCAT, earning him a place at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston. He went on to complete his Family Practice Residency and three years of a Surgical Residency at Youngstown Hospital Association, Northside Hospital, Youngstown, Ohio. He then went on to complete two years of a Surgical Fellowship at the City of Faith Medical Research Center through Oral Roberts University School of Medicine.

After this fellowship, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for two years as a U.S. Army doctor at Madigan Medical Center. During this time, Paul earned the Army Achievement Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster). He also obtained a perfect score on the Combat Pistol Qualification Course, entitling him to wear the U.S. Army Expert Weapons Qualification Badge, and won an award for “Best Attitude” while preparing soldiers for Operation Desert Storm in extreme heat. In 1989, after his service, he joined Harvard Family Physicians where he worked for 35 years as a family physician. He retired in late 2024 just before his 70th birthday. He also acted as medical director for Family Hospice of Oklahoma.

During his early twenties, Paul began serving others through medical missions. He went on at least one trip a year through various mission groups and Christian medical groups including Panama, Syria, Honduras, Guyana, Guatemala, Peru, Lebanon, Mexico, Gambia, Belize, and many more. On these trips, Paul and the medical teams set up free clinics for underserved communities across the globe.

Paul was a decorated clarinetist and musician. In 1971 and 1972, Paul made All-State and won Second in the State of Texas for the High School Division of Clarinet, in which a judge remarked “I haven’t heard playing like that since Benny Goodman!”. He was even invited as a young man to join the United States Marine Band, which he rejected to attend medical school. During his later years, he enjoyed playing clarinet and worshipping for the First Baptist Church of Tulsa Orchestra for nearly a decade. Paul loved music and created a collection of musical instruments from every country he visited.

If you knew Paul, you more than likely received a piece of artwork from him. Whether it was pencil sketches, oil paintings, watercolors, digital art, sculptures, or finger paintings made from tempera paint, Paul loved to create. For many years, he taught volunteer art and painting classes for the homeless of Tulsa through the Salvation Army. He would then sell the paintings at art festivals and donate the proceeds back to the Salvation Army.

Paul lived for Christ, and exemplified Him as a father, husband, son, grandfather, brother, doctor, artist, missionary, and friend.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Salvation Army, the Tulsa Botanical Gardens, or to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for Cancer Research, where Paul received input on his treatment during his final years.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Schaudt Funeral Service Chapel, 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145.

A memorial service will follow on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Hope Fellowship Church, 4803 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105.