Paul A. Grosland, 67
Paul Allen Grosland, 67, of Austin, died at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester on Oct. 29, 2008.
He was born April 10, 1941 in Northwood, Iowa, the son of Oscar and Inah (Hanson) Grosland. Baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Paul attended 13 years of school on the same block in Northwood, graduating with the class of 1959. He attended Mason City Junior College in Mason City, Iowa before moving to Minnesota where he attend Mankato State College and served three years in the National Guard. On Aug. 26, 1961 he was united in marriage to Ruth Hempen at First Lutheran Church in Northwood. They made their home in Cedar Falls where Paul earned his BA degree in elementary education at State College of Iowa in 1963. He taught sixth grade for nine years in Fertile and Mason City, Iowa and Albert Lea. He got his master’s degree in audio visual library from Mankato State College in 1971. He was a school librarian in Fort Dodge, Northwood and at the Area Education Agency in Ottumwa, Iowa. Moving back to Minnesota, he was the district media director for Austin Public Schools for 23 years, retiring in 1999. Paul spent 53 years of his life going to school. After retirement from the school system, he worked at Hormel Foods Corp. in aircraft cleaning for seven years. He enjoyed photography and his iMac computer, spending time with his family, traveling and doing day trips. Paul and Ruth went on an Alaskan cruise and also to Norway.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth, Austin; son, Dan Grosland, Inver Grove Heights; daughter, Michelle (David) Phillips, Faribault; granddaughter, Julia Phillips, Faribault; brothers: Virgil Grosland, Plymouth, David (Diane) Grosland, Fort Dodge, Iowa; sisters: Mavis (Richard) Nelson, Albert Lea, Kerma Hammer, North Carolina; JoAnn (James) Villa, Lake Mills, Iowa; sister-in-law, Talora “Tillie” Grosland, Albert Lea.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Oscar and Inah Grosland; brother, LaVon Grosland and a niece, Marilyn Hillman.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor Ron Barnett officiating. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment is at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood, Iowa.