Paul Burnett Bailey, 84, went home to be with Jesus on Aug. 30, 2023. He lived at the Burnett Continuing Care Center for five years and greatly appreciated the staff who cared for him. He grew up in the Bluff Lake area near Danbury, Wisconsin.
Paul loved to play piano and shared his talent by playing by ear. He was known for his great sense of humor. Paul could fix or build just about anything, and his creative mind was always wondering about his next project. Some of his accomplishments were building a tractor from parts of several other tractors and constructing a log splitter.
Paul was born in Frederic, Wisconsin, on May 29, 1939, the youngest child of 12 born to Cecil and Mildred Bailey. Paul graduated from Webster High School in 1957. Paul attended two years at Tennessee Temple School.
Paul served in God’s Invasion Army, an outreach to communities and churches. His year of service was spent in the Pacific Northwest, where he met the love of his life, Irene Peterson. They were married on Dec. 8, 1962.
Paul served as a pastor for a few years in Cadott, Wisconsin. They then moved near Bozeman, Montana, where he logged and drove Caterpillars. While in the Bozeman area they welcomed three children, Phillip, Rebecca and Sherianne.
Paul’s family moved to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, for a few years. They later moved to Danbury to build a house on land purchased from his father. Paul and Irene thought it was important to enjoy the great outdoors and live off the land.
Paul worked at Voyager Village for many years as a mechanic. He also ran his own business, Paul’s Small Engine Repair.
While raising his family, Paul was a pillar in the church. He served as a deacon, worship leader, Sunday school teacher and youth group leader.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Mildred; his siblings, David, Eugene, Keith, Marian (Brown), Robert, Murle (Stewart), Marjorie (Allen), Norma (Carmon), Margel (Anderson), James, and infant brother, Phillip; his wife, Irene, in 2008; and his son, Phillip, in 2018.
Surviving family members include daughters, Rebecca Bailey Bender (Brad) and Sherianne Bailey; daughter-in-law, Carol Crenshaw Bailey; grandchildren, Jacob Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey, Jonathan Bender and Hannah Bender; and his sister, Eileen Bailey Carlson (Lorne).
Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 15, 4-7 p.m., at the Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster, Wisconsin. Funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 16, at First Baptist Church of Falun at 1 p.m., preceded by visitation at noon and followed by a luncheon at church at 2 p.m. Committal service will be at Bluff Lake Cemetery after the luncheon.
Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at swedberg-taylor.com.
