My father passed away this past Tuesday 9/8. I was lucky enough to have been with him quite a bit over the past couple months as he suffered with a dreadful disease. I was with him as he drew his last breaths. Please excuse this blogger while I attend to business and get myself together from this devastating loss.
Dad's Obituary
Marvin Walfrid Paavola was born to Bruno and Aili Paavola on September 3, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. The following year the family moved to the Sanborn area where he spent his childhood. Marv graduated from Ashland High School, County Teachers College, attended Stevens Point University, graduated from Northland College with a BS, and University of Superior with his MA.
He married Sandra Engen on June 15, 1957 at the Saron Lutheran Church in Ashland. His first teaching job was in Lac du Flambeau. In 1959 He took a job in Bayfield teaching 8th grade, and loved it so much that he continued there for 35 years. He was also the grade school principal for many years, but missed teaching and returned to teach 4th grade his last few years prior to retirement. His students still affectionately refer to him as “Mr. Paav.”
Marvin was a 7th and 8th Grade boy’s basketball coach, Little League coach and taught Hunters Safety and Snowmobile Safety classes. He was a scorekeeper and announcer for athletic activities for over 30 years, which also let him watch his boys as they participated in different sports.
Summers were spent trimming Christmas trees for Jens Nursery where they shipped several thousand trees to Chicago. In later years he trimmed only enough for his own customers. He was in the business for over 40 years and enjoyed the once a year visits with his customers, their children and then their grandchildren. He enjoyed picking out trees for people so that they could depend on having the perfect tree every year. When he cut them he marked them with the proper name so that everyone could have their special tree. Woe to anyone who took someone else’s tree!
He also loved fishing, and although he never had his own charter boat, he was a captain for most of the area boats including the Crusader, Silver Fin, Connie Jean, Muriel Ann, Mr. Ed, and the Eagle. The highlight of his fishing career was in June 1971 when fishing with Larry Reiten at Cat Island, he caught the first big red-fin lake trout in the area after years of lamprey devastation. The fish weighed 22# and 13 oz and hangs in the hallway of his home. He won the Lucky 13 prize that year and had to go to Eau Claire to accept the award on TV.
He was an avid bow, turkey, deer, pheasant and partridge hunter, and was lucky enough to have hunted with his sons, son-in-law, grand daughter, father-in-law and grandfather-in-law, among others. Building a new tree stand was an annual event, and usually the planning started a week after the current season.
He did not enjoy the bears, and the most terrifying time of his life was being chased by an angry bear at the Ski Hill tree farm, escaping into the car and racing back to Bayfield, eventually returning to find the shirt he left behind in his haste ripped to shreds by the bear.
Marvin also loved cribbage, rummage sales, the Packers, blueberries, chocolate, Coconut Joy ice cream, and gooey snowballs. He has had many special friends through the years. Some of these people had been part of his life for a long time while others even though becoming acquainted in recent years still meant so much to him. In the early years friends enjoyed the stone soup and smear parties, as well as many fish boils and faculty parties.
Marv was passionate in his love for his family, his hobbies, and his faith. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his children and grandchildren. During his last days he had forgotten how to reel in a fish, but his training with the grandchildren enabled them to help him. He loved his daughters-in-laws and son-in-law like they were family, and was proud of the grandchildren’s special talents, whether they were sports or music.
His last week was spent in bed with his family and friends surrounding him with love, comfort, prayers and song.
He is survived by his wife Sandy of 52 years, sons; Jeffrey (Sandy), Scott (Cathy), Cheryl Tesarek (John), Tad (Colleen), Todd (Keiko.) He is also survived by 9 granddaughters, Karrie Rasmusson, Kylli and Alia Paavola, Amanda and Michelle Tesarek, Joy, Elisabeth and Iris Paavola, Christina Paavola, and one grandson Erik Paavola, as well as his mother Aili Paavola (Heino,) sisters Marie Sigler, Martha (John) Oxley, and Margie (Bryon) Petz, and the many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly. He is also the great-grandfather of Emma and Andrew Rasmusson. He and Sandy were also host parents to Luis, Andres and Daniella Ramierez from Venezuela and Olav Smidstrod from Norway, as well as a foster parent to Angela (Larry) Ochsenbauer.
A visitation will be held in the Bethesda Lutheran Church fellowship hall on Sunday evening Sept 13 from 6-8 pm. Marv’s favorite chocolate chip cookies and Kool-Aid will be served at the event.
Memorial services will be held at Bethesda on Monday September 14th at 11:00.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Bethesda Lutheran Church, Regional Hospice, or a Marvin Paavola Memorial Scholarship fund.
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7 years ago
Hi Jeff, My husband Bill and I feel so privileged to have known your dad. Our friendship began many years ago when I was doing craft shows and needed a place to stay for Apple Fest. A friend of mine who had done an apprenticeship at Eckels Pottery many years before and had stayed at Tree Top during that time, gave me their phone number thinking maybe your mom and dad could help find me a place to stay. When I told your mom how I had gotten the number I was welcomed to stay there. My daughter and I continued to stay at Tree Top for the Apple Fest over the next 5 -6 years and were always made to feel like family. Your mom’s cooking and your dad’s jokes were the best.
ReplyDeleteFollowing my first stay with your parents, my husband and I were passing through Bayfield. We stopped at your mom and dad's so Bill and they could meet. We became good friends for the years to come. Your dad would travel to our farm in central WI to turkey hunt in our woods. I took a picture of your dad with the first turkey he got. We had a joke amongst the four of us about your dad and a chair in the woods. Your mom can tell you about that.
We were so very happy we got to see your dad the week before he passed. He actually recognized Bill and they joked about the chair again. My last words to your dad were, “Don’t forget to bring me one of Sandy’s apple pies next time you come turkey hunting.” That was something he had always done. He said, “I will.”
Our hearts broke when we got the call from your mom. I can only say to you what so many other people have no doubt already said to you, “Your dad was a wonderful person, a good friend and we will miss him.”
You have a great family and together you have a lifetime of memories to share of your dad.
Sue
Thanks so much for your comments Sue. Hearing stories like yours about dad gives us all comfort. I know he enjoyed going to your place to hunt and to visit with you and Bill. Please keep in touch with the family.
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