Paul Raymond Waataja was born August 11, 1936 in Kingston, Minn., to Andrew and Jennie (Jacobson) Waataja. He was baptized and confirmed at the Apostolic Church in Kingston. He attended country school and graduated from Litchfield High School.
On May 3, 1958, he married Shirley Karie and together they made their forever home south of French Lake corners. Paul and Shirley were married 65 years until Shirley’s passing in November 2023.
Paul commuted to Minneapolis for work and retired in 2000 after many years of service at Safetran Systems in Fridley.
He loved nature and the outdoors, feeding the birds, walking the county park trails and lots of camping through the years with his family. He like to cut and split wood for the sauna and campfires, go to threshing shows and traveling with Shirley around the country to visit friends and relatives. Most of all he was content to be at home working on projects and mowing his lawn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brothers, Evert, Ernest, Donald, Ralph, Kenny, Gerald and Carl; sister, Elaine Luoma.
He is survived by daughter, Lori (Rolf Hogan) Waataja; sons, Jeffrey and John Waataja, grandson, Michael (MacKenzie) Waataja; granddaughter, Emily (Nick) Faber; great-grandchildren, Lola and Mikko Waataja; sisters, Jean Nordstrom, Marie (LeRoy) Gertgen and Carolyn Waataja; sisters-in-law, Joyce, Shirley, Jackie and Jane Waataja; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A service was held at the Kingston Apostolic Lutheran Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with visitation starting at 10:00 am. Arrangements were by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home (www.swansonpeterson.com; 320-286-2534).