Steven "Steve" Jerold Paulson

Steven, "Steve" Jerold Paulson, age 57, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Steve was born on September 27, 1957 at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids to Vernon and Shirley Paulson. He attended public school in Park Rapids, graduating from the Park Rapids Area High School with the Class of 1976. Steve enlisted in the National Guard where he proudly served his country as a guardsman for a number of years. Following his graduation from high school, Steve attended the Wadena Vocational Technical School where he studied auto body repair. On February 19, 1977, Steve was united in marriage to Susan Massie. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Cindy, Jamis, Cody and Cara. After graduating from Vocational School in 1979, Steve began working for Kostal Ford in Park Rapids for a number of years. He started his own business, "Paulson Towing and Repair" which he operated until 1993. He then engaged in potato farming on the Hubbard Prairie for the next eight years. Later he gained employment working as an all-around handyman at the End of the Trail Resort on Bass Lake northwest of Park Rapids and for anyone else who needed someone who could fix just about anything. He loved the great outdoors and was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. He once tracked a deer he had shot for over eight miles with dogged determination through intense brush and timber. He had a magical green thumb and each spring would plant a large vegetable garden which he would nurture into fruitful abundance like no other. Steve was an avid fan of the reality show "Duck Dynasty", he wouldn't miss an episode, he had the series on DVD's, and watched them over and over. Above all, Steve loved his children and grandchildren with all his heart and cherished the times they shared together. He will be lovingly remembered by his four children: Cindy (Jason) Horton of Menahga, Jamis Paulson, Cody (Candace) Paulson and Cara (Garrett Harvala) Paulson all of Park Rapids; 13 grandchildren: Taylor, Taten, Trevyn, Madison, Molly, Mason, Morgan, Marley, Izaiah, Aliazah, Aurora, Kiazah and Zappa; three sisters: Barb (Wayne) Hildebrandt of Osage, Connie Paulson of Philadelphia, PA and Nyla (Daniel) James of Texas; one brother, LeRoy (Sandy) Paulson of Osage; his step-father, Mike Kiefert of Park Rapids; three step-sisters: Sue (Ron) Petrie of Park Rapids, Judy (Randy) Petrie of Stillwater, MN and Nancy Dickinson of Park Rapids as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Paulson, his mother, Shirley Kiefert, his step-mother, Bertha Paulson, one brother, Jerold and one sister, Carol; his grandparents, LeRoy and Pauline Wilmes and a great grand daughter, Ember Rae. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday, May 11, 2015 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids. Special music tributes will be: Spirit in the Sky, Lucky Man and Dust in the Wind. The casket bearers will be: Ronnie Pritchett, Chuck Dennis, Brian Luther, Glen Pfeifer, Wes Benjamin and Rick Harsha. The Star of the North Marine Corps League will provide military honors. Interment will be at a later date. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Sunday and again on Monday beginning one hour prior to the service. To view the video tribute or to leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com