Paul Edgar Fredricks was born in Stockholm Township, Minnesota on June 13, 1936, to George and Victoria (Gustafson) Fredricks. He attended Glascoe grade school and graduated from Cokato High School in 1954. On September 14, 1957, Paul married Sharon Wonola at Stockholm Lutheran Church. In 1961, they purchased their farm in Stockholm Township where they raised their three sons.
One of his first jobs was managing the roller rink in Cokato. Later in life, he drove a milk truck for the Stockholm Co-Op Creamery Association, and then became a dairy and beef cattle farmer for over 40 years. After his retirement, he was a school bus driver for Dassel-Cokato public schools.
Paul served as clerk on the Stockholm Township board for 28 years. He was also on the Board of Directors for Wright-Hennepin Electric Co-Op.
Paul loved to laugh. He liked a good joke and he loved to tell one. After hearing one of Paul’s jokes, the response from almost everyone (especially his sisters) was, “Oh, Paul!” His sense of humor will be sorely missed.
During his free time, he enjoyed going to tractor shows. He was also a league bowler for Howard Morris agency. He especially looked forward to spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Paul passed away peacefully at his home on May 2, 2021, surrounded by his family at the age of 84 years.
Survivors include his sons: Craig (Vikki) of Riverbank, CA; Carl (Amy) of Howard Lake, MN; Chad (Laura) of Cokato, MN. Grandchildren: Cassandra (Seth) Shultz, Stacie (Shane) Derichs, Jasmine Meservey, Aaron Fredricks, Erica Plath, Ashlyn Ratike, Isabelle and Ava Elias, Cassidy, Brandon and Megan Blazinski, Vernon (Jr) Kinneman and Fletcher Jensen. Great-Grandchildren: Zoey and Mallory Derichs, Joshua Kafka, Charlie and Benjamin Shultz, Layla Severtson. Sisters: Ruth (Garland) Buttenhoff, Beverly (Harvey) Burau, other relatives including nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; parents, George and Victoria Fredricks; father and mother in law, Reino and Inga Hill, Otto and Ina Wonola; sisters, Effie (Earl) Terning; Lucile (Norman) Dahlman; brother, Robert (Doris) Fredricks.
A memorial service will take place at 11AM on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Stockholm Lutheran Church, with visitation from 5-7 PM on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continuing 1 hour prior to services at church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stockholm Lutheran Church.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com