Paul K. Read

Paul K. Read, 96, Baxter, died Friday July 17, 2009 at St Joseph Medical Center in Brainerd. 

Funeral services will be Tuesday 11 a.m. July 21, at First Congregational Church in Brainerd with Pastor Deb Celley officiating. Private burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd. 

The relatives will receive friends 1 hr prior to service at the church. 

Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter.

Paul K. Read was born on Feb. 2, 1913 in Staples to Paul and Margaret (Britton) Read. He graduated from Staples High School, then worked at his father’s grocery store.  He married Ardith Cockrell on May 28, 1933 in Henning. They moved to Brainerd and worked for Hickerson Garment Factory. 

He entered the U.S. Navy serving in the South Pacific during WW II. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Brainerd and started Read Distributing Co. He was a part of the formation of Brainerd National Bank and Herman National Bank. 

Paul was a member of the Congregational Church, Brainerd Rotary where he and Ardith were Paul Harris Fellows with Rotary International, Elks Club, American Legion, president of the 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.; 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, one daughter, Pam Krueger; two brothers, Chet and Dick; two sisters, Grace and Mil; and one granddaughter, Carrie Krueger.