My name is Heather Fotschky and I am writing these words through unimaginable grief. On December 31st, 2025, I lost my husband, Paul Robert Fotschky III—the love of my life and the father of our children. Paul was born on July 22, 1979, and for almost 18 years, he was my partner in life. We were married for nearly 17 years, growing up together, building a family together, and sharing dreams we believed we still had time to live out. He is my best friend, my constant, and the person I thought I would grow old beside.

Paul was a devoted and loving father to our seven children, all carrying the Fotschky name and his legacy: Skyler (16), Elizabeth (15), Nicole (13), Annabelle (11), Jasmin (10), Jayden (7), and Zander (4). We also carry the deep and permanent loss of our angel baby, Ryder, who passed away just two years ago at only six weeks old. To our children, Paul was safety, strength, laughter, guidance, and unconditional love. He was the daddy they ran to, the voice they trusted, and the arms they felt protected in. Watching them try to understand a world without their father is the most heartbreaking thing I will ever have to do.

During Ryder's birth, I suffered severe nerve damage, which left me handicapped and now requires me to walk with a cane. This injury has made working and providing for my family extremely difficult. Through all of this, Paul was my rock. He cared for me while still being an incredibly present father to our children. He carried the weight of our family with love and strength, never complaining, never wavering. Losing him now—while facing physical limitations and raising our children alone—feels overwhelming and terrifying. I am now facing life without my husband while trying to be strong for our children, who have already been through more loss than any child ever should.

The emotional pain is unbearable, and the financial reality of this loss is frightening. This GoFundMe has been made to help me with funeral and memorial expenses, as well as the immediate living and household costs, so I can focus on caring for our children and helping them through this devastating transition. If you are able to donate, please know that no amount is too small, and every single gift is deeply appreciated. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers means more than words can express. Paul was deeply loved, and his absence is felt in every single moment of our day and our life. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for your compassion, and for helping us honor the life of an incredible husband and father. With all my gratitude and a broken heart, Heather Fotschky

Now on top of all this my brother just died on January 7th. More words to come, I just can't right now.

As if losing my husband was not devastating enough, our family has now been struck by another unimaginable loss. On January 7th, just days after Paul passed, my brother, Nathan Hamacek (34), also died. The shock and grief of losing two immediate family members so close together has left us completely shattered.

Nathan leaves behind his son, Blake, who has now lost his father, and an angel daughter, Hailey, who passed before him and is forever loved and remembered. Our hearts ache not only for our own children, but for Blake, who is now facing life without his dad.

There are no words to describe the weight of this compounded loss. I am grieving my husband, my children are grieving their father, and now we are also mourning the loss of a beloved brother, uncle, and father. The emotional toll of trying to process multiple deaths in such a short span of time has been overwhelming beyond anything I could have imagined.

This additional loss has placed even more strain on our family—emotionally, mentally, and financially—during a time when we are already struggling just to breathe through each day.

The funeral service will be held on March 30th on a day that is our 18th anniversary that day means so much to US because that is the day we became an US, not an I and a HIM but an US then soon we became a WE when we started to have all of our children. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we are still trying to figure out a world where my hubby and our kids daddy isn't in it.

The service is on March 30th at 3 pm at the Fort Perry Baptist Church in Mauk GA. Any and all people who knew Paul or our family and would like to show your support just by being there are all invited. God knows we could all use all the love and support.