Paul J. McAlpine, 79, of Maple Lake died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center. Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, Jan. 29, at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Maple Lake, with Father Mark Huberty officiating. Burial in the parish cemetery. Paul is survived by his wife, Shirley of Maple Lake; sons and daughters, John (Rita) of Maple Lake, Cathy (Gary) Jude of Maple Lake, Mike (Diana) of Prior Lake, Theresa Peterson and fiancé, Ed O’Connell of St. Cloud; daughter-in-law, Cheryl McAlpine of Big Lake; son-in-law, Steve Gottsch of Nisswa; sister, Anne Paumen of Maple Lake; 20 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. Paul will be welcomed into heaven by his parents; son, Tom; daughters, Barbara Gottsch and Mary Swenson; grandsons, Daniel McAlpine and Matthew Jude; brother, Mark; sisters, Margaret LaTour and Theresa Freiberg; and son-in-law, Loren Swenson. Paul John McAlpine was born Oct. 9, 1924, in Maple Lake to Mark and Katherine (Bruns) McAlpine. He was a 1942 graduate of Maple Lake High School. Paul married Shirley L. Dearing Oct. 16, 1945, in Annandale. This union was blessed with seven children. Paul lived in Maple Lake all his life where his family farmed. He was a member of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Father O’Brien’s Council Knights of Columbus #3613, and the Maple Lake Lion’s Club. He was a civic-and community-minded man serving on several boards. Paul was on the Maple Lake City Council, served as City Clerk, Maple Lake Creamery Board, ADA, State Board of Aging, Land O’ Lakes, served 15 years as a Wright County Commissioner, and was State Chair of the State Association of Minnesota Counties. Pallbearers: Nathan, Brian, Pat, Cory, and Mark McAlpine, Tim and Steve Jude, Rob and Duane Gottsch. Music: Marge Pavlik and St. Timothy’s Resurrection Choir.
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