Funeral services for Paul A. Grasdalen, age 59, of Albert Lea, were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. The Rev. Linda Gunderson officiated. Interment was in Central Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation was 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Paul died on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center due to complications of lung disease and cancer.

Paul Allen Grasdalen was born on Oct. 3, 1944, in Albert Lea, the only child of Ole and Norma (Hoverson) Grasdalen. His mother died when he was 3 1/2 years old and he was raised by his father and his grandmother, Bertina. Paul was baptized and confirmed at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. He graduated from Albert Lea High School and attended Mankato State for one year.

In September of 1964, Paul was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Hendrickson. They had two children and were later divorced. On Oct. 29, 1971, Paul was married to Marilyn Ewald in Sioux Falls, S.D. Following school, Paul worked in the roofing business with his father Ole. He then moved to Colorado for a short time. After returning to this area, Paul worked for Johnson-Rusco, and then as a sub-contractor for Nordaas Homes until 1985. He and his crews built numerous houses in Nebraska, Iowa, and Albert Lea. From 1985 until 1993 he worked for Home of Your Own. From 1993 until the present Paul was self-employed.

Paul was a sportsman. He enjoyed hunting antelope, elk and deer. His favorite pastime was fishing. Paul spent many weekends on the Mississippi River and also enjoyed salmon fishing on Lake Michigan and in streams. Paul also liked to go camping; he occasionally went with the Levison group to Canada.

Survivors include his wife Marilyn; his daughter, Stacia and her husband Mark Schumaker and their children, Jordan Malimanek, Morgan Schumaker and Lindsay English; his son, Sandin and his wife Lisa Grasdalen and their children, Taylor and Riley; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Maxcene Henle, Kenny and his wife Arlene Williamson, Bob and his wife Laurie Berg, and R. Glen and his wife Ellie Ewald; special cousins: Shirley Sweet and Jeanette Gulbrandson; and other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; by his aunts: Stella Evenson and Pearl Hoverson; other aunts and uncles; by his father and mother-in-law: Robert and Anna Ewald; and brother-in-law, Fremont Henle.