April 18, 1974 – October 6, 2026
Christopher Michael Paul Paine, 52, of Rhinelander, passed away on Tuesday evening, October 6, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital due to complications from small intestine adenocarcinoma cancer.
Born in Cudahy to Cindy Martell and Mark Kenyon, Chris grew up in Cudahy and graduated from Cudahy High School in 1993. He went on to work in several fields including a motorcycle technician/Sales and MKE airport operations, just to name a few. In 2016, he moved to Rhinelander, where he eventually became the Rhinelander Oneida County airport operations manager.
Chris enjoyed the simple things in life: rock music, motorcycles, fishing, old movies, shooting guns, and gaming with his TSC-brothers in World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. He also never missed a chance to watch Die Hard every Christmas, firmly believing it was "the best" Christmas movie!
Above all, Chris was a family man with a big heart, a stubborn streak, and a sense of humor that made him uniquely himself. He was a loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend who would do what he could to help others and took pride in spoiling his grandchildren. Beneath his tough exterior was a lovable teddy bear who cared deeply for the people in his life.
Chris is survived by the love of his life, Karen; his daughters, Taylor (Dameon) Dennison and Emily Paine (fiancé Andrew Fossell); his grandchildren, Maximillian, Christopher, Eleanor, and Ethan, with another grandchild expected on his birthday, April 18, 2027; his mother, Cindy (Jerry) Martinson; his father, Michael (Cheryl) Paine; his sibling, James Paine; in-laws, Michael (Laverne) Szydel, the Szydel siblings, and a huge extended family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Mark Kenyon; siblings, Ryan and Shawn Kenyon; brother-in-law, Harold Simonis; grandparents, Frank and Lynn Hornak, Raymond Paine, Richard and Ruth Kenyon.
Chris leaves behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, and love. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and forever loved by those lucky enough to call him family.
A Time of Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Hildebrand Funeral Home, located at 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, from 12:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life Service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com
