POUL ANDERSEN

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POUL (PAUL) ANDERSEN September 8, 1944 - July 21, 2015 With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Paul, our beloved husband, dad, papa, brother and friend. Without warning or notice, Paul passed away on a sunny summer morning in a most fitting place, the bush, amongst piles of fresh cut poplar while loading his truck for another trip to the mill. Paul was not only the cornerstone of his family, he was part of the fabric of the community in which he lived for nearly 60 years. Paul was loved by all. He leaves a big hole in the lives of those he loved the most, but at the same time Paul armed them with very fond memories and the values that make them the successes they are today. Paul was predeceased by his parents, Kai and Nanna Andersen; father and mother-in-law Arthur and Rose Krampetz; and sister Lis Darechuk. Of those he joins, it is his fifth son Braden's passing in 2009 which carries the most significance. Paul regretted little and rarely talked of stress the way it is commonly thrown around in this day and age, only losing Braden had this impact. Dad knew what mattered, he had perspective and he ensured we kept that same focus. Paul is survived by his wife of 45 years, Judy and his four sons, Shannon (Cheryl), Jeremy (Amy), Hans (Karen) and Brett. In the last 13 years, Dad had taken on what became one of his most important roles, that of "Papa". Papa leaves behind grandsons, Branden, Cole, Kai and Carsten, and granddaughters, Emma and Gracie to carry on his memory. Papa was a larger than life figure to these kids, he loved them dearly and will be greatly missed by them. He will also be fondly remembered by siblings, Finn (Donna), Leo (Linda), John (Shirley), Jette, Lars (Dawn) and Lene (Ghislain); nieces and nephews; as well as numerous friends and business associates. Born in Glenstrup, Denmark, Paul was one of eight children to Kai and Nanna that immigrated to Canada from Denmark in May of 1957. With the exception of brief stints in farming communities in southern Manitoba, and some time spent working in Red Lake, Paul called the McMunn area home for nearly 60 years. He met the love of his life Judy in 1969 and after buying a piece of land from Bill Nakka, Mom and Dad made McMunn home, and a lively home it was. From sandboxes and hockey rinks to dirt bikes and snowmobiles, Paul provided a home that had everything his five boys ever wanted and needed. How he kept the grey out of his hair for so long is tough to tell. It was likely because there was nothing that they would do that would surprise him, as Paul had likely done something similar himself. Dad was everything to his boys - father, mentor and as we moved away from home, we all came to call him one of our best friends. Paul worked in the logging industry his whole life, from working for Haakon Feilberg in the early days, to eventually acquiring various parcels of timber quota, he realized that success was a simple equation, hard work and a positive attitude. Paul spent many years working with family and friends in that same business, most notably time spent with both Shannon and Jeremy, the Feilberg family, as well as his business partner/neighbour/brother-in-law and most importantly friend, Norman Nakka, or "Buster" who predeceased him in 2013. McMunn isn't going to be the same without these two. Paul loved gardening, watching sports, being outdoors and he did all of these things with family. The camping and fishing trips we took as a family are memories that none of us will ever forget. He enjoyed travels back to the Old Country three times after immigrating to Canada, numerous weekend trips across the border, Portugal, Paris, London and many others, including a recent family trip to Phoenix. With Judy by his side, Paul took pleasure in the simplest things. He was a selfless man attending the boys' countless hockey, volleyball and softball games and various other sporting endeavors, scouting activities and school functions. He never complained, as he truly enjoyed the time he spent with us. Dad was the world to us all, and now he is gone. Through all the measures that matter, Paul was a rich man, he had no shortage of good friends, all the opportunity he needed to provide for his family and most importantly, a wife who was always by his side and a family that loved him dearly. Papa had a positive aura about him, and this rubbed off on the people he spent his time with. We cannot express how sad we are but it is hard to think of Paul/Dad/Papa without a smile on our face. His support, positive nature, love and grounded approach to every angle of life will not be lost. Most importantly, it has left cherished memories that none of us will forget. Paul's Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Reynolds Community Hall in Prawda, Manitoba. A brief Interment will be held immediately after the service in the nearby St. Mary's Riverside Cemetery, with a lunch to follow in the Reynolds Community Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's memory to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (Child Find Manitoba), 615 Academy Road, Winnipeg, MB R3N 0E7, (204) 945-5735. For those who wish to sign Wojcik's online Guest Book please visit our website. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel (Serving Beausejour) www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com 204.268.2263. "Paul, Jeg elsker dig." Always, Judy.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 25, 2015