Winnebago County public servants identified as fatal Fond du Lac County motorcycle crash victims

Brandon Reid, Fond du Lac Reporter
Updated ·3 min read
Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap, 58, and his wife, Pam Delap, 56, a former member of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, were victims in a fatal motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County Sept. 1, 2023.
Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap, 58, and his wife, Pam Delap, 56, a former member of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, were victims in a fatal motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County Sept. 1, 2023.

TOWNSHIP OF FRIENDSHIP – Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap, 58, and his wife, Pam Delap, 56, a former member of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, have been identified as victims in a fatal motorcycle crash that happened Friday evening in Fond du Lac County.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that sheriff’s deputies, North Fond du Lac Ambulance and Van Dyne Fire Department were dispatched to Van Dyne Road at Subway Road in township of Friendship shortly before 7 p.m. Friday for the report of a two-vehicle crash.

The sheriff’s office said initial investigation showed a westbound vehicle driven by a 17-year-old Fond du Lac woman failed to stop at the stop sign on Subway Road and was struck by a northbound motorcycle driven by Paul Delap.

The Delaps were ejected from their motorcycle, the sheriff’s office said. Paul Delap was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene. Pam Delap was wearing a helmet and was flown to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, where she later died from her injuries. The driver of the westbound vehicle was evaluated at St. Agnes Hospital for minor injuries. The sheriff’s office said inattentive driving is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Winnebago County Executive Jon Doemel’s office issued a news release Saturday honoring the Delaps as “dedicated public servants.”

Armored vehicle incident: Fond du Lac police say no one was arrested or seriously hurt after an armored vehicle response Friday evening

Co-workers of Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap have erected a memorial with a county hat after Paul and his wife Pam Delap were killed in a motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County on Sept. 1, 2023.
Co-workers of Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap have erected a memorial with a county hat after Paul and his wife Pam Delap were killed in a motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County on Sept. 1, 2023.

“On behalf of the Winnebago County government and citizens, we remember the Delaps for their years of service to our county,” Doemel said in the release. “Paul had been a dedicated employee of our highway department since 1991 and eventually elevated to the position of paving foreman. Pam was a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and a proud BPDD Partners in Policymaking graduate. Pam was instrumental in the construction of an accessible playground in the city of Oshkosh and spent countless hours volunteering for disability initiatives statewide.”

Winnebago County Highway Commissioner Bob Doemel remembered his paving foreman by stating the following in the release: “Paul ‘Frenchie’ wore his passion on his sleeve. Paul was a bridgetender, equipment operator and strong leader on our team. Whether it was clearing roads of snowfall or ensuring a properly maintained road infrastructure, Paul was always willing to lend a hand. We will miss him and his devotion to our county.”

County Executive Doemel added in the release: “I want to thank Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman and Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt for their compassion during this time. I appreciate their collaboration as our county government family mourns two passionate public servants. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Delaps’ friends and family. Additionally, we ask the community to keep the other driver in their prayers as she navigates this tragedy.”

Death at Taycheedah: Woman referred for charge in Taycheedah prison death of Cindy Schulz-Juedes

Co-workers of Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap have erected a memorial with a county hat after Paul and his wife Pam Delap were killed in a motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County on Sept. 1, 2023.
Co-workers of Winnebago County Highway Foreman Paul Delap have erected a memorial with a county hat after Paul and his wife Pam Delap were killed in a motorcycle crash in Fond du Lac County on Sept. 1, 2023.

County leaders spent Saturday calling Paul's co-workers, the release said. The county has been in contact with the BPDD, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The county executive and highway commissioner will be meeting with highway employees when they return to work Tuesday, the release added.

Winnebago County Human Services staff, including crisis debriefers, will be on hand for employees, the release said. Crisis and mental health services are available to the public 24/7 by calling the crisis hotline at 920-233-7707. Additional behavioral health resources are available by dialing 211 or visiting 211.org.

The county is working to display Delap’s plow truck as a temporary memorial. Co-workers have already erected a memorial with a county hat for Paul Delap, the news release said.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Winnebago County leaders die in Fond du Lac County motorcycle crash