Paul E. Goulet

Paul Edward Goulet, age 88, of Mason, Michigan and Edgewater, Florida passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 4, 2026, while in the wonderful care of Oasis Memory Care in Holt, Michigan.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin to Orville J. “Frenchie” and Leona C. (Heft) Goulet. Paul’s family later moved to Largo, Florida. After graduating from high school, Paul attended the General Motors Institute in Flint. While in college, Paul’s parents spent their summers in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he met and fell in love with Joyce. Or rather fell in love with Joyce’s Dad’s boat, depending on who is telling the story. Summers at Spring Lake became a huge part of the Goulet & Kussmaul families for many memorable years.

Paul worked as a top-level Research Engineer at GM Oldsmobile for many years. He was coaxed out of retirement to work for B&K Corporation in Saginaw, Michigan where he traveled the world designing assembly lines for automotive companies such as Toyota and Harley Davidson.

Automobiles played a constant role in Paul’s life starting with racing motorcycle enduro races with Joyce’s family in the 60’s and 70’s. Once their son, Pierre, was born he quickly followed on 2 wheels racing motorcycles. When Pierre got his driver’s license, racing went from 2 wheels to 4 as they started car racing at the local short track. Paul, of course, was the brains of the operation engineering and building the cars and acting as Pierre’s Crew Chief as they moved from racing locally, to regionally and eventually nationally in a top stock car series. Paul even built the race team’s car hauler out of an old Peterbilt semi.

Paul enjoyed his retirement years splitting time between Michigan and Florida. He loved riding his Harley well into his Eighties and took multiple cross-country trips with his daughter in law’s father and good friend, Hans Nikolaas over the years.

Paul was a giant of a man. Most often the smartest person in the room, he was extremely well respected and admired by all that knew him. Paul is survived by his son, Pierre (Kristina) Goulet of Mason; brother-in-law Ray (Tammy) Kussmaul; sister-in-law JoAnn Kussmaul and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mary (Robert) Whipple and wife Joyce (Kussmaul) Goulet in 2020.

Paul will be interred with his wife in the Edgewater-New Smyrna Cemetery in Edgewater, Florida by private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Victory Junction, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317.