Robert Paulsen

Reverend Robert J. “Bob” Paulsen died on June 9, 2017, at his home in Fountain Hills, AZ. He was called back to the Lord peacefully in his recliner, watching TV, with his dog, Sady, by his side.

Bob was born on September 6, 1929, to parents John V. and Luzelle Thompson Paulsen, in Racine, WI. He attended Racine schools and graduated high school in 1947. Bob felt a calling from the Lord and left the University of Wisconsin and attended St. Olaf College to begin his journey to serve the Lord, where he graduated in 1952.

On March 4, 1950, Bob married Donna Jean Olson from Milwaukee, WI. Bob then entered the Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN, and graduated in 1955. He was ordained in 1955 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI. His first call was to Scandinavia Lutheran rural Aberdeen, SD and Bethany Lutheran rural Mellette, SD. In 1959, the family moved to Louisburg, MN where Bob served Louisburg Lutheran and St. Paul’s Lutheran in Bellingham, MN. The Paulsen family moved in 1964 to Ashby, MN and Bob served churches in Ashby Pelican Lake Lutheran and Erdahl, MN Erdahl Lutheran. In 1967, Bob took a call to Hawley, MN at Hawley Lutheran Church. Bob was proud of the building of the new church and education wing while at Hawley. Throughout the years in Hawley, Bob’s interest was in youth groups including spending time on Jr. and Sr. Luther Leagues. He took many confirmation classes to the family cabin in the winter and to Emmaus Bible Camp and Christikon Bible Camp in the mountains of Montana during the summers. Because of Donna’s illness, in 1986 they decided to move to Arizona and Bob served at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Apache Junction. Bob and Donna were married 39 years before Donna passed away after three years of fighting cancer.

Bob was a man of many talents and was always tinkering. In the early family years, he built a camper and the cabin at Pickerel Lake including all the carpentry, plumbing and electrical. He continued to work with wood throughout the years and was known for his wooden toys. He filled up his days with upholstering, stained glass, calligraphy, rosemaling, caning, jewelry making with silver, wood carving, and painting to name a few.

Bob married Barb Kruse and they continued to live in Apache Junction. After 33 years of preaching, Bob retired in 1992 and they returned to Minnesota to be closer to their families. They made homes in Pine Island and Zumbrota before moving back to Fountain Hills, AZ in 2013.

Preceding Bob in death were his wife, Donna and daughter, Debbie, his parents, and sister, Nancy Paulsen Gardner.

Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara, Fountain Hills, AZ, his four children, John Ellen Paulsen, Lake Orion, MI, Doug Janet Paulsen, Reno, NV, Kris Kevin Nelson, Hebron, ND and Mark Kathy Paulsen, Chanhassen, MN; 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; Barb’s children, Randy Lother, Prescot, WI and Robyn Scott Clementson, Pine Island, MN; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 23, 2017, at 11:00 A.M., at Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN. Friends and family may gather for one hour before the service at the church. Interment will be in Hawley Cemetery.