Warren F. Paschka

Warren Frederick Paschka, 87, died Monday, January 5, 2009 at MeritCare Hospital. Warren was born March 19, 1921 in Chaska, MN, where he spent his childhood years. As an apprentice to his father, young Warren became fascinated with electricity. After graduating from high school in 1938, a semester of college at Gustavus Adolphus College, and a part-time job at the Minnesota Valley Canning Company Green Giant in Le Seuer, he became an electrician for the American Crystal Sugar Company ACS in Chaska. His career path took an abrupt detour during World War II when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee, stationed in New Guinea. At the same time, he found the woman of his dreams in a young lady from Bloomington, MN named Jeanette January Gysler. After they shared a few fox trots while Warren was home on leave, the young couple got to know each other by exchanging letters for the next two years. A gorgeous color photo of her and the discovery that she also was Lutheran, convinced Warren that January was "the one." They married June 15, 1946 shortly after he returned to Chaska following the war. Warren and January moved to East Grand Forks, MN in 1948 where he constructed their home and continued his career with American Crystal Sugar as Chief Electrician. He was active in city politics, church choir, barbershop quartets and many other social activities. His children Jon and Jani were born during the 1950s, and in 1964 he accepted a position as Master Mechanic of a new sugar factory in Drayton, ND. His third child, Susan, was born in 1966. After holding the same position for three years at the factory in Renville, MN, he returned to the Red River Valley in 1976 to serve as Safety and Security Director at the headquarters of American Crystal Sugar in Moorhead, MN. In 1984 he retired from his career, and for the next 14 years he and January spent their time traveling, enjoying their children and several grandchildren and simply having fun with each other. Warren lost his beloved January to cancer in 1998, but during his last ten years he found comfort in his children, several special friends and a life-long faith in God. Shortly before his death, he related that one of his favorite Bible scriptures was Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." NIV Without a doubt, there are many of his dear friends and family members who look forward to seeing Warren Paschka again in that new order! Survivors include his son, Jon Linda of Rosemount, MN; daughters, Jani No Heart Ronald of Fargo, and Susan Hoerner Kevin of Hebron, ND, his grandchildren from Jon and Linda: Joshua, Elizabeth, Phil and Joe; and a grandchild from Susan and Kevin: Judah; as well as many other friends and relatives that he cherished.