Russell John Paumen

Russell John Paumen, age 88, of Maple Lake, died Monday, August 23, 2021 with family at his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 2, 2021 at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake with Fr. John Meyer as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Chatham Township. Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday and 9-10 a.m. on Thursday, both at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Maple Lake. Parish Prayers will be led by Fr. Kevin Magner at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral chapel. Services will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Russell John Paumen, the son of Leonard and Muriel (Pribyl) Paumen, was born September 30, 1932 at the family farm in Chatham Township. He was the second of fourteen children to grow up at the farm. Russ graduated from Maple Lake High School with the Class of 1950. Following graduation, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. On January 14, 1956, Russ was united in marriage to Martha Elfmann at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake. They lived in St. Paul for a short time prior to building a home in Coon Rapids, where they lived for 11 years. In 1966, they built another home in Chaska. In 1973, they purchase the Elfmann family farm on the south side of Rock Lake in Chatham Township near Maple Lake.

Russ worked at American Monarch and Research Inc. for a number of years. He then started at MTS Systems in 1965 until his retirement in August of 1994. Church and family were of utmost importance to Russ. During his 88 years of life, Russell was a devout Catholic and family man. He served on St. Timothy's Parish Council, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteered countless hours at St. Timothy Catholic Church and School. Russ was also a member of the Maple Lake VFW, where he formerly served as Commander and on the Honor Guard.

Russell enjoyed camping, impromptu road trips, gardening, fishing, dancing, and playing polka and big band music. Many times, when the family was together, he would place on a record and open the windows to the lake for all to hear.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Martha; 6 children, Christa (Bill) Nagorski of Lakeville, Alan (Linnae) Paumen of Norwood Young America, Kurt (Kristina) Paumen of Henderson, NV, Laurie (Joe) Geris of Prior Lake, Sandra (James) Smith of Elk River, and Carolyn (Blake) Johnson of Maple Lake; 11 grandchildren, John Ingebrand, Kate Herman, Matthew Ingebrand, Rebecca Nienaber, Elisa Litfin, Ryan Geris, Jenna Geris, Jared Smith, Molly Deschenes, Ben Brown, and Sara Brown; 13 great-grandchildren, Anna, Ellen, Gus, Louie, Vidya, Asha, Naveen, Irani, Eleanor, Michael, Mae, Lucas and Lyla; sisters and brothers, Marcella (Norbert) Schaufler of Maple Lake, Mary Van Offeren of Maple Lake, Jerry (Joyce) of Buffalo, Tom (Linda) of Buffalo, Maurice (Karen) of Waite Park, Rick (Judy) of Maple Lake, John (Nancy) of Eden Prairie, Jean (Gary) Neutz of Monticello, David (Marlene) of Hoover, AL, Doug (Wanda) of Becker, and Greg (Diana) of South Haven; and many other relatives and friends. Russell was preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas and Artemese (LaFave) Pribyl and John and Margaret (Schuegers) Paumen; parents, Leonard and Muriel (Pribyl) Paumen; granddaughter, Elizabeth Paumen; sister, Lenore Paumen; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and LaVonne Paumen; brother-in-law, George Van Offeren; and parents-in-law, Edwin and Olga (Bartels) Elfmann.

Russell's grandchildren will serve as casket bearers. Krista Elsenpeter and Shannon Paumen will provide the music for the service. Military honors will be provided by the Maple Lake American Legion and VFW Honor Guard and the Army National Guard Honor Guard. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.

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