Paul K. Read
BAXTER - Paul K. Read, 96, Baxter, died Friday, July 17, 2009, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, at First Congregational Church in Brainerd with Pastor Deb Celley officiating. A private burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd. The relatives will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter.
Paul Read
Paul K. Read was born on Feb. 2, 1913, in Staples, son of the late Paul and Margaret (Britton) Read. He graduated from Staples High School, then worked at his father's grocery store. He was united in marriage to Ardith Cockrell on May 28, 1933, in Henning. They moved to Brainerd and worked for Hickerson Garment Factory. He entered the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Brainerd and started Read Distributing Co. He was part of the formation of Brainerd National Bank and Herman National Bank. He was a member of the Congregational Church, Brainerd Rotary where he and Ardith were Paul Harris Fellows with Rotary International, Elks Club, American Legion, past president of Brainerd School Board, past member of the Staples Methodist Church, 50 Twosomes Dance Club and Health Club. He enjoyed flying, hunting, golfing, tennis, snowmobiling and boating.
Paul is survived by two daughters, Kay (Leonard) Boeder of Sun City West, Ariz., and Mary Murrow of Maple Grove; one son, Tom (Esther) Read of Brainerd; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ardith; one daughter, Pam Krueger; two brothers, Chet and Dick; two sisters, Grace and Mil; and one granddaughter, Carrie Krueger.