Paul Donald Gensmer, age 93, passed away Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse, Wis.
Paul was born on May 1, 1932, to Grover and Erna Gensmer in La Crosse. He graduated from Caledonia High School in 1950. After high school he attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for two years before transferring and graduating from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
Paul returned to Caledonia, where he joined the family hardware business with his dad and his uncles. Shortly thereafter, he married Ethelyn Myrah at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, Minn., on September 4, 1955. This coming September, they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Paul took over the family business and ran it for many years. In addition to operating the hardware store, he took on a position as a substitute rural mail carrier with the United States Postal Service. This later turned into a full-time position. Paul was with the Postal Service for a total of 37 years.
Paul loved his hometown of Caledonia!! He lived there his entire life, except during his college years and his time at Bethany St. Joseph.
Paul enjoyed many interests, including golfing, bowling, watching sports, playing cards, playing baseball and reading the daily newspapers. Euchre and baseball had a special place in his heart. He rarely refused a game of euchre, or when he was younger, playing catch in the backyard with his boys.
Paul was an active, lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Caledonia and served on the church council for many years. He was a dedicated Chistian who read his devotions daily.
Survivors include wife Ethelyn Gensmer, sister Anita Hirschoff and brother Walt (Alice) Gensmer, sons Tom Gensmer, Tim (Julie) Gensmer and Terry (Christine) Gensmer; grandchildren Nick Gensmer, Alison Gensmer, William Gensmer and Annika Gensmer; sisters-in-law Norma Munson and Margie Parkos, and many nieces and nephews.
Paul was preceeded in death by his parents Grover and Erna Gensmer, parents-in-law Gilman and Minnie Myrah, in-laws Otto Hirschoff, Earl and Eloise Hoff, Charlie and Patsy Solberg, Jack Munson and Bill Parkos.
The family would like to thank Bethany St. Joseph Care Center and the Mayo Hospice staff for the compassionate care given to Paul. Memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church and/or school.
Funeral service took place at 11 a.m., Monday, August 11, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 650 N. Kingston Street, Caledonia, Minn. Visitation was at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
The service was livestreamed via St. John’s Lutheran Church YouTube channel. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, assisted the family.
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