Paul Elroy Boelke

Paul Elroy Boelke was born February 3, 1944, to Marge and Gerald Boelke in Great Bend, ND. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 10, 2025.

He enjoyed growing up on the family farm, attending school in Great Bend, and later, graduating from Wahpeton High School. Paul joined the Army in 1966.

Paul married Juanita Rossman on June 18, 1977, later, welcoming their son Douglas in 1979. They resided in Wahpeton raising their family until her passing in 2009. Paul continued to live in Wahpeton tinkering in the garage with his junking business and having his morning coffee visiting friend’s uptown until August 2024, when he moved to Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo.

Paul worked for Minn-Dak in Wahpeton as a dryer operator for 34 years. He was a hard-working dedicated family man. He took pride in his job, showing up early for his shifts and earning a perfect attendance record.

In his spare time, he enjoyed being outdoors spending time with his family, scraping metal, deer hunting, camping with his family on Ottertail Lake and riding motorcycle with his wife. Paul had a great sense of humor and loved having fun giving everyone he came across a hard time. He was a very kind and devoted family man; always had a smile for everyone he came across. He was an animal lover, especially dogs-he loved having a little buddy to share his snacks.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Juanita; parents, Marge and Gerald Boelke; and brother, Jerry.

He is survived by his sons, Douglas (Amie), of Wahpeton, Jay (Donna), of Mapleton, and Mitchell (Lee), of Fargo; six grandchildren, Mason, Josh, Devyn, Dylan, Jayden and Garrett; brother, Jim (Eileen), of Wahpeton; brother-in-law, Jim (Sandy), of Jacksonville, FL; as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

There will be a graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Friday, July 11, 2025, at Riverside Cemetery, Breckenridge, MN. Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge.