Paul Edward Crandall
Paul Edward Crandall, age 57, died on Saturday, August 24, 2019 after a long illness at the family home on the farm in rural Nevis, Minnesota with his loving family present.
Paul was born July 22, 1962 to Melvin Lyle Crandall and Betty Rose (Corliss) Crandall in Owatonna, Minnesota as the second to the youngest of seven children. Paul’s early childhood was spent as a typical boy on the family dairy and hog farm in Taylor County, Iowa, riding ponies, playing cowboys and Indians, and having fun with his brothers and sisters. He attended the Bedford Community School District of Bedford, Iowa where he participated in football, wrestling and track. In 1976, the family moved to their farm east of Nevis in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Paul attended both Nevis & Akeley Public School Districts playing football in both schools. He grew up playing a large role in the daily milking, feeding and caring for their Holstein dairy herd. Paul graduated from North Webster High School in Springhill, Louisiana in 1981. He worked for Tyson Foods in Springhill in their hotdog and meat processing plant.
Paul later ventured to Nome, Alaska and was employed by the Alaska Gold Company working as a dredge operator for many seasons dredging for gold, working along-side his brothers Joe and Dale. He spent the off-season during the winter months back home in Nevis, Minnesota. Paul and Joe had many adventures of their time spent in Alaska. Such as hunting grizzly bear out in the Alaskan bush harvesting a large female they packed out for Paul’s cherished bear skin rug through many miles of rough terrain. They also harvested a prized Alaskan moose on another hunt and packed out a huge set of antlers and many pounds of meat. There were many memories and trinkets of Paul’s time in Alaska like his collection of small walrus ivory carvings that he purchased from the local Eskimos. In 1987, after the loss of brother, Rodney, Paul became very active in Ridgeway Farm Thoroughbred operations in both Minnesota and Louisiana. Racing horses at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota and tracks throughout Louisiana. From the 1990’s and on Paul returned to Nevis, traveling throughout the country with his brother Joe while working with their good friends, Travis and Michael Paul, whom they met in Nome, Alaska, building custom paint spray booths nationwide. Paul was also employed by Offutt Farms in their farm shop for many years. He operated heavy equipment for his local 49ers Union, running mainly bulldozers and backhoes. Since 2012, until his retirement this year, Paul was employed by American Crystal Sugar working maintenance in their Moorhead, Minnesota plant. Paul was also in partnership with his brother, Joe, taking over the livestock and crops of Ridgeway Farm of Nevis, Minnesota after their father’s retirement in 1995. The last eleven months until his passing was spent at home doing his many pleasures: deer hunting, maintaining his guns, overseeing the operation of Ridgeway Farm, working his bulldozer and spending time with his friends and loved family.
At the end, Paul’s faith in the Lord was renewed with help from his brother, Rev. Dale Crandall just days before his death.
He is survived by his siblings: Nancy (Stan) Beug of Golden CO, Dale (Linda) Crandall of Wasilla, AK, Larry Crandall, Julie Crandall, and Joseph Crandall; his niece, Courtney Crandall and nephew, Truman Crandall, all of Nevis, MN whom he helped raise; his step-mother, Jean Crandall of St. Cloud, MN; step-siblings: Debbie Olson of Foley, MN, Ron Olson of St. Cloud, MN, Cindy (Kevin) Kloeppner of Annandale, MN; as well as many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Paul is preceded in death by his father Melvin Crandall, mother Betty Rose Dyck, brother Rodney Crandall and his maternal and paternal grandparents; and other family members.
Paul we love you and rest in peace. You will be missed by your family, friends, co-workers and many others.
Visitation will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, September 8, 2019 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home, Park Rapids, MN followed by the memorial services at 2 p.m.
