Allen Willard Paape, 76

Allen Willard Paape, 76, died peacefully at his home in rural Waltham, MN on Saturday, May 4, 2024, surrounded by his family after an almost yearlong battle with cancer.

Allen was born August 25,1947, to Willard and Anita (Ruhter) Paape in Austin, MN. Allen attended country school in Waltham from 1953 to 1957 and then started school in Blooming Prairie. Allen was a lifelong farmer which included his participation in the BPHS FFA program. A number of years later he was a sponsor for FFA for the Hayfield, MN public schools.

After graduating from BPHS in 1965, Allen attended Vocational school in Austin where he studied agriculture. During that time, he continued farming on the family farm with his parents, as well as working for the Martin Bustad farm in Austin.

In 1966, he met Nancy Jean Gaul while roller skating at the Brownsdale, MN roller rink. They married on November 1, 1969, and were later blessed with two children, Jennifer and Brian.

In 1993, after many years of battling Crohn’s Disease, milking cows was starting to wear on Allen and he took a janitor role at the Hayfield Public Schools. He was beloved by many in his nearly 25 years there. He loved his job, the faculty, parents and students as much as they loved him. After retiring in 2018, he continued his farming passion by assisting his son with the farm, but became known best in the area for his love of cutting and baling hay.

Allen was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church of Waltham. He spent many years on the church council and was considered a pillar in the church. He will be missed by so many.

Allen is survived by his wife, Nancy Paape of Waltham; daughter, Jennifer (Ed) Chestolowski of Rochester; son, Brian (Melanie) of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Abbi, Felicia, Isaac, Remington, Gavin, Matthew, Eric, McKenna and Evan; bothers-in-law, Harold (Vickie) Gaul of Austin, Robert (Jessika) Gaul of Owatonna; nieces, nephews, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, nephew and many aunts and uncles.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the St. Croix Hospice team, especially Laura and Lisa.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024, at St, Michael’s Lutheran Church, 30450 570th Ave in Waltham, MN, with Reverend Barbara Finley Shea officiating. Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 501 2nd St NW in Hayfield, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church cemetery.

To share a special memory or condolence please visit, www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com, Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 501 2nd ST NW Hayfield, MN 55940, (507)477-2259. Blessed be his memory.