Jon Anthony Paulsen

Jon took his last breath in the arms of his wife, Julie, on the morning of Sunday, October 29,2023. Despite a year-long battle with bone cancer, his death was unexpected and devastating for his family.

Jon was born in Portland but spent his boyhood in St. Helens playing with his older siblings, Mike and Michelle, and neighborhood friends like the Turners. The family moved to Beaverton where Jon graduated from Aloha High School. He loved playing basketball with the Pittaways and competing in high jump. He attended the University of Oregon and joined the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He left college early to pursue a career as a painting contractor and ran his own business, PaintServ, for 25 years.

Jon met Julie in January 1994, and it was love at first sight. From that first night, the spark in his eyes made her heart glow with a warmth and love she never expected. She quickly swept him off his feet. They eloped to Las Vegas, July 16 of the same year. Jon was Julie's home base where she always felt the safest and most loved. They were overjoyed when Claire Diane was born in October of 1998. The family was complete when Charles Dale was born in April of 2002.

Jon was a kind, gentle soul with a silly sense of humor. He loved spending time with Julie, their two children, Claire and Charlie, and their dog, Lucas. He was an equal partner in marriage, household chores, raising children, and fun shenanigans. While Julie thought she was the instigator of mischief, looking through family photos show that Jon was a very willing participant and instigated his fair share.

During the 10 years Jon worked the paint desk of Home Depot at Mall 205, he created art when adding the color tints to the cans of base paint. He then made photos of the paint cans before putting them on the shaker to mix. He and Julie were planning to find a way to share his creations. They are truly unique and abstract. He retired in November 2022 due to his battle with cancer.

While the last year of his life was shadowed by hospitalizations and complications, it overflowed with love. Jon was more engaged in life, love and laughter than he had been for over six years of struggling with constant, debilitating pain. He got to spend more time with his siblings, Mike Paulsen (Tracy) and Michelle Drewry (Tony). He and Julie lived in the moment and cherished their time together.

Life for this family will never be the same. Jon is now spreading his positive energy and love in a very different way. We hope you can feel it too.

Jon's ashes are interred at Mt View Cemetery in Oregon City in the Natural Pathways section. If so inclined, please make a donation to OHSU Foundation for student scholarships or to a charity of your choosing.