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Editorial Cartooning Obituary

Paul Fell – RIP

Published: June 29, 2026 1 minute 22 comments

Editorial cartoonist Paul Fell has passed away.

Paul Henry Fell, Jr.

January 8, 1946 – June 28, 2026

Paul Fell, Lincoln Journal 1986

Friend and associate Shawn Peirce is reporting for the family that Paul Fell has died.

If he were reading this, Paul might chuckle and humbly accept the praise – and then he’d likely say something like, “Don’t make a big deal of it. Everybody dies. This has been a fun life.” Or as Paul put it in his final email to me, “It’s been a fun ride.” As has been so often the case, I can’t really argue with Paul on that.

You might see a simple obituary in the newspaper, and some posthumous honors, but Paul’s wife Arlene, and his friends like me have been instructed not to do anything big at this point.

From the family’s obituary:

Paul grew up in Massachusetts and headed west to attend college at Peru State in Nebraska and play football. Having lived in the Cornhusker state for so long, he’s lost his Bay State accent and now thinks the people back East are all crazy….. and they talk funny too. He was a high school art teacher and coach, a college art professor, and a full-time staff cartoonist for a daily newspaper. He formerly ran his own cartooning and humouous illustration studio in Lincoln and taught in the art department of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He was amazed that he could ever make his living doing the very thing that got him into so much trouble when he was a schoolboy.

Update: The Lincoln Journal Star Remembers

Livia Ziskey at The Lincoln Journal Star remembers Paul Fell (or here) with fellow Nebraska cartoonists Neal Obermeyer and Jeff Koterba.

Fell’s first cartoons were distributed to small Nebraska newspapers by Maverick Media, a printing and publishing firm owned by Maxine and Francis Moul.

His early work landed Fell the editorial cartoonist role at the former Lincoln Journal newspaper…

In the mid 1970s Paul was a Nebraska high school art instructor and an emerging cartoonist.

Paul Fell, The Peru Challenge/Maverick Media – January 31, 1974
Paul Fell, The Lincoln Journal – February 7, 1976

By January 1974 Paul’s cartoons were being distributed by Maverick Media to small Nebraska newspapers. Two years later his cartoons on local issues were appearing in The Lincoln Journal where he would become familiar to that paper’s readers over the following years.

By 1984 Paul’s talent had impressed The Journal and he was hired as staff editorial cartoonist and art director. A bit before become a Journal staffer Paul began contributing his Paul Fell’s Sketchbook (aka Saturday Sketchbook) to the newspaper’s Saturday edition.

Saturday Sketchbook by Paul Fell, The Lincoln Journal – July 14, 1984

Paul Fell, The Lincoln Journal – September 5, 1984
Paul Fell, The Lincoln Journal – June 25, 1992

Paul’s time on staff with The Lincoln Journal would last from September 1984 to June 1992 when Paul and other staffers were let go due to “rising costs and a decline in revenues.” Paul would return to being a freelance cartoonist and was soon once more entertaining Journal readers and others throughout Nebraska and beyond with his self-syndicated Paul Fell Cartoons.

Soon after being laid off Paul would get national attention as a “radio cartoonist.”

Paul Fell radio cartoonist by J. L. Schmidt/Associated Press – August, 1992

Paul Fell’s freelance association with The Lincoln Journal would continue until 2007 when it would end with it being discovered that Paul had violated the newspaper’s corporate owner’s standards by contributing to a political campaign. Alan Gardner reported on the tiff with Paul’s response:

“They don’t pay me enough money to be able to dictate how I conduct myself in political campaigns. I generally do not donate to political candidates, but Maxine Moul is a longtime friend and former newspaper publisher where I got my start as a cartoonist back in 1976.

“Interestingly, during my ‘you’re fired’ phone conversation with the editor and editorial page editor on Friday afternoon, they mentioned that the Journal Star code of ethics covered freelancers as well as full-time staffers. I responded that it would have been nice, then, if they had thought to share that policy with their freelancers.

Along with national events Paul continued to satirize Nebraska politics and, with sports cartoons, celebrate his Nebraska Huskers.

Paul’s art continued to evolve over the years into a clean attractive stylized look, his politics remained progressive.

Paul Fell, 2026

The Daily Cartoonist extends sincere condolences to Paul’s family and friends.

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Comments 22

  1. There are no words to adequately describe the sadness of the passing of a dear friend of some 4 decades. To say he’ll be missed is monumental understatement. And he would absolutely HATE any gushing over it. There was never any pretense or BS from Paul, always straight and true, the epitome of a good, honest man. RIP, old friend.

  2. My heart was broken to hear of Paul’s passing. A dear friend from our AAEC convention years. Life is so fragile…..our deepest condolences go to his wonderful, patient wife Arlene and the rest of the Fell family. What a talent, nice guy and loss. RIP

  3. As a Nebraska kid, I grew up on Paul Fell’s books with Roger Welsch, and his cartoon on Peru State’s 1990 NAIA Div II national championship hung on my bedroom wall for years. When I was a cartoonist in college, Paul went out of his way to introduce me to other cartoonists like Mr. Miller above. I currently subscribe to my hometown newspaper, and it’s been a treat still seeing Paul’s cartoons in the pages there. He’ll be missed.

  4. This is very sad. In 2013 I attended my very first AAEC convention in Salt Lake City. Paul was one of the first cartoonists I met. I felt like the new kid in class and Paul invited me to sit with him and have coffee on the first day. He shared many stories about other cartoonists and the profession with me that morning and made me feel very welcomed. I will always be grateful for that.

  5. Saddened to hear of Paul’s passing!

    My experience at my first in-person AAEC convention was much like Tim Campbell’s. He was a wonderful guy to get to know, and he will certainly be missed.

  6. Paul was a good soul and incredibly kind to me whenever I attended the AAEC conventions as a college student. The world needs more Paul Fells, not fewer. My heart goes out to Arlene.

  7. I met Paul Fell when we were both pursuing art degrees at Peru State College in the mid-sixties. I remember in particular our participation in Leonard “Shorty” Sherwood’s classes. Paul and I remained in contact in the decades since. He did a cartoon for me in support of my candidacy for NEA Executive Committee. I have a signed copy of the book he illustrated for Mr. Welsch: “You Know You’re a Nebraskan.” I’m deeply saddened by the news of his passing.

  8. I was deeply sadden to hear about Paul’s passing. I first met Paul in the early 1990’s when Paul, Ken Alvine, Buck Jones and myself met in Sioux Falls to start the North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonist Society.

    I found Paul to be a wonderful person and a great friend over the past 30 plus years. I’m going to really miss him, and I’ll always cherish the visits I had with Paul whenever we got together.

    Paul was an outstanding cartoonist and ambassador for the cartooning profession.

    I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Arlene on Paul’s passing.

    RIP My friend.

    Dave Carpenter

  9. Paul will be missed. He was a stalwart donor to Cartoons & Cocktails until its demise. He used to toggle conventions between AAEC and NCS. So glad he and Arlene were at the 2026 AAEC.

  10. Paul was always so friendly and kind. And a heck of a cartoonist. Folks in Nebraska adored him. I’m so glad I had the chance to see him and chat with him at a recent AAEC convention.

  11. I’ve known my friend Paul for so long I don’t remember when we first met. Most likely at an AAEC convention back in the early 80s. There are no words that describe what Paul meant to the world of cartooning, especially to young cartoonists who he befriended. Some of his last words were….”See ya on the other side….” was for us who knew him, was his way to put his friend’s concerns ahead of his own. I will miss his positive and humorous spirit but look forward to tipping a few beers with him at that cartoon convention in the sky.
    With much condolences to Arlene and all who knew Paul.
    I LOVE you Paul.

  12. Had the privilege of visiting with Paul at a couple NCS North Central Chapter events. Admired his quiet confidence and ability to create smoothly executed, fiercely spirited toons. My deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and friends. May the light of God’s love shine upon him always.

  13. A real sweetheart. Ever cheerful and guy. Beloved.

  14. He would have enjoyed my typo.

  15. So sorry to learn of Paul’s death. He was one person, along with Jerry Dowling, Tom Stemmle, etc., I always looked for during Reuben weekends, Festival of Cartoon Art events, the couple AAEC gatherings I was able to attend. Always liked hearing of whatever Arlene was up to. We teased each other mercilessly. Wish I’d been able to be around him as much as colleagues got to. So grateful to know him at all.

  16. I’m so sad to hear of Paul’s passing. He was a fine cartoonist and finer person. We were longtime buddies in the AAEC, going to our first conventions about the same time, and followed each other’s bumpy career paths (he once lovingly referred to me as a “nuclear cockroach” because I kept going somehow in editorial cartooning despite many setbacks; he did too). See you on the other side, my friend.

  17. Paul was one of the sweethearts in our business. He was always kind and eager to meet new cartoonists, which is how he met me when I first came into the fold back in the early 90s. I don’t think anyone has a bad word to say about Paul, except maybe those he targeted in his cartoons. He was a gentleman, and he will be missed. Thank you for being my friend, Paul.

  18. Thanks to all of you who’ve left messages about Paul. You’re right, Wiley – he told us not to make a big deal of it. I don’t think this counts. Just a few of us gathered around an internet campground, telling stories about our long time friend.

    Still, he’d be glad to know he made such a difference in the lives of so many great people. And over the years, he complimented the work of many of you in our many discussions.

    Thanks again, folks.

    1. Paul was a good man, kind and present. I lived in Colorado for a few years and got to know him via the local (widespread) NCS chapter. A highlight was a get together in Sioux Falls, SD driving Mort Walker and others around, laughing the whole way. RIP, Paul

  19. Paul was one of the friendliest and most welcoming people to run into at the Reubens. Kind and soft-spoken, he will be missed.

  20. Paul was a talented cartoonist and a true gentleman. Always enjoyed being in his company. Loved talking cartooning and college football with him at the conventions. He will be dearly missed.

  21. This hits hard. There are cartoonists who are straight-shooters and when I’m around them, they recharge my batteries. Paul was one of them.
    All I can do is echo the many people Paul befriended. I met Paul at my first AAEC convention and we became lifelong friends. He did a drawing in my sketchbook and took the time to talk to me and give me advice. When I attended The Ohio State University’s Festival of Cartoon Art, I looked for Paul.
    He was a kind soul that was good for the world of cartooning. As Marshall said, we need more Paul Fells in this world. My condolences to Arlene and all of Paul’s family & friends. He will be greatly missed.

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