Paul I. Trepanier

Paul Irving Trepanier

Paul was called to Our Lord on March 25, 2020 in New Hope, Minnesota, at the age of 93.

Paul was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan on July 24, 1926, to Marie Anne Groleau and Clement Trepanier, he was the youngest of eight children, seven of whom grew to adulthood and have preceded him in death.

Paul joined the Merchant Marines where he served for a year, traveling to Le Havre in France.  In April 1946 he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Fort Missoula, Montana where he met the love of his life, Loretta Arkell.  They were married there on November 19, 1946.  Paul mustered out of the Army in April of 1947, then the couple moved back to Paul’s hometown of Iron Mountain.  The first 2 of their 9 children were born there.  Work being hard to find, Paul and Loretta moved to Minneapolis in 1949, where they remained and raised their family.  They lived on the North Side and were active members of Saint Anne’s Catholic School and Church from 1953-1968 when the family moved to Robbinsdale and joined St. Margaret Mary Parish.

Paul worked at General Mills, was a mail carrier, and retired from the Robbinsdale School District in 1989.  Then they moved to Princeton, MN where they made many friends, and pursued many interests, such as golf, wood working, gardening, and traveling to Texas and Arizona in the winter. They also volunteered with Meals on Wheels for a time. Not to mention time spent with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!

In 2007, after Loretta’s stroke, they moved to a Co-Op apartment in Burnsville, MN, which brought them closer to more family in the Metro area, and Paul continued to care for Loretta.

In 2012, Paul and Loretta moved to NE Minneapolis, Loretta to Catholic Eldercare, and Paul to a nearby apartment, where he visited Loretta daily until her passing in December of 2017, one month after their 71st wedding anniversary!

Paul kept his apartment NE until March of 2019, when he moved to St. Therese Residence in New Hope.  He had an independent apartment next to “his” golf course, was able to go to Mass and participate in activities there, his favorite being Bingo!

On January 5th of this year, he began a decline, less energy, worsening memory, and lethargy, so he entered hospice care in his apartment.  He really enjoyed having staff visit just about every day, in addition to family members.  There were visits from music therapists, that he especially enjoyed, he even played his harmonica!

Paul is preceded in death by his brothers, Willard, Ted and Joe, and sisters, Celia, Caroline and Marie, and Grandson Anthony Cullinan.  He is survived by children: Marie, Jay (Karen), Dennis (Bonnie), Allen, Paulette Rasmussen (Jim), Terese Cullinan (Chuck), Nancy Halm (Nick), Pierre (Stacy), and Margaret: 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family is very appreciative of the love and support received, with special thanks to the Fairview Hospice teams, Metro as well as Princeton.  Their care enabled Paul to stay in his apartment where he passed away peacefully.   

Mass of Christian burial on July 23 at 11:00 am at Christ Our Light Church in Princeton, 804 7th Ave. S. 55371, visitation one hour prior with interment at St. Edward’s Cemetery, also in Princeton.

Memorials preferred to the Little Sisters of the Poor: http://www.littlesistersofthepoorstpaul.org/donations/

Please join us by Zoom if you are unable to attend in person.

Time: Jul 23, 2020 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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