Donald Scott Paff 

August 7, 1962 – August 4, 2026

Donald Scott Paff, lovingly known as "Scott," passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, at the age of 63, surrounded by the love of his family. While our hearts are broken, we are forever grateful for the years, memories, laughter, and unconditional love he gave so freely. If you knew Scott, you knew that he lived life with a smile, a bear hug, and usually a story that would leave everyone laughing.

Born on August 7, 1962, Scott grew up in Plainwell, Michigan, where he attended school and graduated with the Class of 1981. The values he learned growing up in a close-knit community—hard work, loyalty, and treating everyone like family—became the foundation of the man he would become.

Scott's greatest love story began 44 years ago when he first laid eyes on his best friend and soulmate, Kimberly Paff. Scott and Kim celebrated 35 years of marriage this past July. They were truly inseparable. Whether they were camping under the stars, taking their annual family vacations, growing an abundant garden, spending long days fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake Michigan at Wilderness State Park, or simply enjoying the outdoors together, they found joy in life's simplest moments. Their marriage was built on friendship, laughter, unwavering love, and a partnership that inspired everyone around them.

Nothing made Scott prouder than his family. He was the devoted father of Nicole (Pat) Milanowski, Ryan (Leann) Paff, Kayla (Drew) Paff, and Joshua (Lindsey) Paff. He never missed an opportunity to brag about his children, celebrate their accomplishments, or remind them how much he loved them. The values he lived by—hard work, honesty, kindness, and putting family first—will continue through each of them.

If there was one title Scott treasured most, it was "Papa." His grandchildren—Mike, Riley, Brayden, Hudson, Olivia, Elliot, Masson, and Brielle, with one precious grandbaby on the way—were the light of his life. Papa Scott wasn't the grandpa sitting in a beach chair with his feet in the sand. He was the one out in the waves splashing with the kids, taking them on ATV rides, teaching them how to fish, bundling up for ice fishing adventures, swimming in the pool until everyone was exhausted, and making every camping trip feel like the greatest adventure on earth. They never had to wonder if Papa loved them—they felt it every single day.

Scott never met a stranger. Walk into a room with him, and chances were he'd leave with a new friend. He had a way of making everyone feel like family, and if you were lucky enough to see him, you were probably getting one of his famous hugs whether you were expecting it or not. He believed a handshake was good, but a hug was better. His kindness, quick wit, and genuine interest in people made him unforgettable. He had a knack for making people laugh and making them feel like they'd known him for years.

To many, he was simply Scott. To others, he was affectionately known as "Uncle Gotti" or "Cooker Man." Those nicknames fit him perfectly because if there was a family gathering, you could almost guarantee you'd find him in the kitchen or standing over the grill with a spatula in one hand and a smile on his face. Cooking wasn't just something Scott enjoyed—it was his love language. He showed people he cared by feeding them, making sure every plate was full and every stomach was happy. No one ever left Scott's house hungry, and if you did, it was your own fault. His recipes always seemed to call for "just a little garlic"... though anyone who knew him understood that "a little" usually meant enough garlic to keep the vampires away for the next decade. The meals he prepared weren't just food—they were another way he wrapped the people he loved in one of his famous hugs.

An avid outdoorsman, Scott felt most at home in nature. You could often find him soaking up the sun with no shirt on, even at the state campground where a kids jokingly told him, "Put a shirt on, old man!" Hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, or simply sitting outside after a hard day's work—those were the moments that filled his soul. After retiring from Western Michigan University, where he became a Master Gardener and a highly respected arborist, he found another passion working with boats at Matteson Marina. He took tremendous pride in his work and was always willing to share his knowledge, whether you asked for it or not. If your tree looked unhealthy, you could count on Scott diagnosing it before he even said hello.

Scott believed in working hard and loving even harder. He led by example, teaching not only his children but everyone around him that character is built through integrity, grit, and showing up for the people you love. His legacy isn't measured by the years he lived, but by the countless lives he touched and the love he poured into each one.

He is survived by the love of his life, Kimberly Paff; his children, Nicole (Pat) Milanowski, Ryan (Leann) Paff, Kayla (Drew) Paff, and Joshua (Lindsey) Paff; his beloved grandchildren, Mike, Riley, Brayden, Hudson, Olivia, Elliot, Masson, and Brielle, with one precious grandbaby on the way; his siblings, Pam, Karen, Tim, Dave, Rich, and Mark; along with countless nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who were blessed to know and love him.

Scott was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Richard Paff and Patricia Kay Paff, and by his beloved Aunt Marie and Uncle John, whom he loved dearly.

We like to imagine Heaven welcomed Scott the only way fitting for a man like him—with calm waters full of fish, towering trees, a perfect campsite, and room for one more garden. He's probably already making friends, handing out hugs, telling everyone where the best fishing spot is, and asking if anyone needs another helping of dinner.

Although we will miss his laughter, his stories, his advice, his cooking, and those unforgettable hugs, we find comfort knowing that every cast into the lake, every campfire, every blooming garden, every splash in the waves, every smell of garlic on the grill, and every family gathering will remind us that Scott is still with us. His love lives on in the family he adored, the values he instilled, and the memories that will be shared for generations.

Scott's life was one well lived, deeply loved, and impossible to forget. He will be cremated, and his family is currently working on finalizing plans for a celebration of life party to honor and remember such a special man. A gathering filled with love, laughter, stories, and the memories that made Scott who he was will be shared with all those whose lives he touched.

We will carry him in our hearts forever. "Love you, See you."

Following his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial celebration of life is being planned, please check back for details.

While visiting Scott’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).