Winsted – Wade W. Pauling, born on August 24, 1955, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
In 2007 Wade turned his life around in sobriety and never looked back.
He grasped his Native American heritage in all he did. His many crafts expressed his deep love for all of nature. Many things he found on his nature walks became part of his craft making in his dream catchers.
Hunting, fishing, cooking, and baking for his many friends was almost a daily thing for him. Wade had a great sense of humor. (In fact, he would’ve loved that we used this goofy picture for his obituary!)
Wade’s favorite saying, “Just Believe,” continued even as he suffered in the pain of cancer that eventually took his life.
Wade is survived by his son, Jason Kocina (Melissa) of Webster, who he recently reconnected with; and two granddaughters; his partner of 13 years, Laurie Erickson of Eagan, who remained the love of his life even though they parted in 2021. Wade is also survived by many brothers and sisters, half and step, and he loved them all the same; sisters, Cheryl Simanovski (George) of St. Hilaire, Michelle Wehrle of Thief River Falls, Kimberly Jegloski of Andover, Merleen Knott (Mike) of Red Lake Falls; brothers, Aubrey Johnson (Eny) of Andover, Lowell Johnson (Nuvia) of Pine City; aunt, Pamela Horton; and too many nieces and nephews to list. Wade had many, many friends. They know who they are, and they are also too numerous to list.
Wade is preceded in death by father, Theodore Pauling (June O’Gara) of Richfield; mother, Dolores Chandler Welin of Minneapolis; longtime stepmother, Rosemary Wavra Pauling of Red Lake Falls; brothers, Michael R. Pauling and his wife Diana of Eden Prairie, Scott Pauling of Red Lake Falls; sisters, Roxanne “Roxy” Christenson (Jerry) of Cologne, and Joy Schmidt of Red Lake Falls.
No services will be held per Wade’s request.
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