Paul Franklin Aarestad

Paul Franklin Aarestad
Paul Franklin Aarestad of Waukesha, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Friday September 22, 2023 at the age of 91. Paul was born on January 28, 1932 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He was adopted in 1938 by Franklin and Winnifred (Anderson) Aarestad and grew up on the family farm in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Paul graduated from Morris High School in 1949 and entered the Navy in 1953. He served during the Korean War as a Navy Hospital Corpman spending much of that time in Yokosuka, Japan. He was always very proud of his military service. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended North Dakota State University for accounting and worked most of his career in the medical field as an administrator. His second career was in quality control for manufacturing.
Paul had many interests, but he will be remembered most for his love of gadgets and as a collector of many things. His philosophy was "if one was good, more was better". His elephant collection was his most treasured. Paul always enjoyed reading, but in his later years, he also enjoyed jigsaw and crossword puzzles, caramel frappe macchiatos and taking rides on his scooter with his dog Sadie.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Winnifred Aarestad; his biological mother Ida (Velde) Halvorson; his sister Patricia (Aarestad) Olson; and stepson Tony Dake.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Betty; his children Laura (Rich) DeRuiter, Paulette (Craig) Mottl, Paul Jay (Debbie) Aarestad, and Timothy (LeAnn) Aarestad; and stepdaughter Tami (Edward) McCullough. Paul is further survived by twelve grandchildren: Mike (Amanda) DeRuiter, Bryan (Tera) DeRuiter, Marie DeRuiter, Craig (Tiffany) Mottl, Kirsten (Kevin) Sobehrad, Kyle (Chelsey) Aarestad, Tessa Horning, Alyssa (DJ Huzjak) Aarestad, Brett Aarestad, Alex Dake, Elizabeth McCullough and Samantha McCullough; and seven great-grandchildren: Landen, Brycen, Ivy, Brinklee, Brystol, Ainsley and Willow. Paul had a caring heart and quick sense of humor and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
The family wishes to thank all the caregivers at ProHealth Hospice Team and Janet Dudzek for their support in keeping Paul at home and comfortable.
Funeral services will be held at Church and Chapel Funeral Home at 15250 W. National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Friday, September 29, 2023, at 12:00PM with Visitation starting at 10:00AM. Interment will be at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family or directly to Angels' Grace Hospice or the American Legion.
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