1933-2023
Paul Allan Ramsay, age 90 formerly of Clarkfield and Wolf Lake MN passed away in Edmond OK on March 12, 2023, at the Veraden memory care.
Paul was born on March 7, 1933, in Northfield MN to Harold and Mamie Ramsay was baptized and confirmed at Saint Peter’s Lutheran. He grew up with his 5 brothers Robert, James, Richard, Gary, George and sister Joann, who passed away as a child. He was raised on a 49 acre farm on the southeast edge of Northfield which is now currently Sibley Elementary School and residential lots of Archibald Court. He graduated from Northfield High School in 1952.
Paul attended St. Olaf College and was drafted in 1954 and served in the US Army until 1956. He returned to complete his college education at St. Olaf earning a Bachelors in Music in 1958. He taught Music in Lanesboro, MN, Washington DC, and finished his teaching career being Band Director in Clarkfield MN for 40 years where faculty and students enjoyed many fun times, concerts and music of “Stand up and Cheer”.
Paul met his wife Joyce Kinnunen on October 1962, during St Olaf’s Homecoming football game against Carlton College. On April 22, 1963, Paul asked Joyce to be his wife. They were married on August 22, 1964, at Spruce Grove Lutheran in Wolf Lake, MN. They lived in Washington DC, Clarkfield, MN, Wolf Lake, MN, Park Rapids, MN and Edmond, OK.
The Birchwood camping trips brought love, laughter and many joyful memories. Paul enjoyed creating wood projects and making music. He spent over 50 years doing public service projects with the Lions Club in Clarkfield and Wolf Lake. Paul had the pleasure playing Tuba in the Montevideo, Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids community bands and over the years was the organist at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Northfield, Bethlehem Lutheran in Lanesboro, Clarkfield Lutheran and Christ Lutheran in Wolf Lake. During his retirement years, Paul cherished accompanying Joyce on cruises, trips abroad and across the country.
Paul will be remembered by family and friends as bringing laughter and smiles to many. He will always be in our hearts as a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather and showing the love of Christ thru the sparkle of joy in his eyes and smile.
Paul is survived by his wife Joyce of 59 years, his son Tom, Daughter Sara, Brother Gary, Sister-in law Kathy and 5 Granddaughters, Hanna, Myah, Ingrid, Dayana and Kaisa.
A celebration of life service will be held at St Mark Lutheran in Edmond, OK on March 30, 2023, at 3:30pm . Interment will be June 23, 2023, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial Contribution may be made in Paul’s name to the Rufus Comfort Dog Fund, St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1501 N Bryant Ave Edmond, OK. 73034.
Link to Paul Allan Ramsay’s memorial video: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/G9FWNCGJLMYL53XH
My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. I have fond memories of family reunions especially when the musical instruments came out. Unfortunately, I did not get that gene from the Ramsay family.
Rest is peace in heaven Uncle Paul.
Tami Enggren
Sara, so sorry for the loss of your wonderful father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very hard time.
Condolences
Amy and Bill Robinson
My sincere condolences to the family of Paul. Paul was the only band teacher I had in high school. So enjoyed his sense of humor and his musical talent. It’s not everyone that can play every instrument!
Love and prayers
Jeanie Anderson
Sympathies to the Ramsey family. Paul was a great guy! He put up with a lot from his students but taught us plenty too.
My sincere sympathies to all the family.
Mr.Ramsay was such a big part of my time at Clarkfield schools and so many of my favorite memories center around band. His enthusiasm was always beyond measure, even when trying to get us to do new things like Marching Band Concerts and Band Carnivals. He gave me my abilities and the love of playing in a band, which I am still doing! He had such a great influence on so many students. Blessed be all our good memories! Charlann Kuehl Anspach
I have many fond memories of Mr. Ramsay and him leading CHS bands. Fun and kind are the descriptions that come to mind when thinking of our band director. In addition to the classroom/band room two favorite memories were of camping at Camden State Park and taking a trip to see the U of M marching band concert. Not only a talented musician he was a role model as a loving father and husband to his family. Blessed be his memory.
A great musician and teacher. Wonderful memories of pep band and fun music for concerts. Chestnuts filled up in his tuba. 🎶🎶🎶My sincere sympathy to the family. Julie Haaland Drommerhausen,Albert lea Mn
My thoughts and prayers are with Joyce and the family. Paul became an “adopted Finn” when they moved to Wolf Lake and so actively participated in the MN Finnish American Historical Society. Elmer and I always enjoyed our visits with Paul and Joyce when we stopped in at the Wolf Lake house. He was a great addition to our Historical Society meetings with his sense of humor, as well as so many other organizations he was involved with. He will be missed at Wolf Lake!
Mr. Ramsey was a great teacher and wanted all of us to love music while we were learning. He did have a twinkle in his eyes and the comment about his kind smile is so true. I especially loved when he sang along to most every song we played. Well done, good and faithful servant….
What a spark plug!!! There was always fun and much joy in the band at CHS! Mr Ramsay was in the middle of it all even when he was (rightly) irritated with us!
(Remember when we played the Pink Panther song and someone dressed up as the PP and ran around the room as we played – unknown to Mr Ramsay?). He instilled a love of music in so many hearts! He and Joyce took me in and let me live with them my senior year so I could graduate from CHS! Now who does that with a teenager??? Big hearts!
He also directed our church choir for many years and gave me a love for choral music!
So much joy in music and in life and praise of our Lord exuded from Paul Ramsay! I’m forever grateful!
My love and prayers and sympathy to Joyce, Tom, Sara and family! ❤️🙏✝️