Paul Klinnert, age 69, of New York Mills, passed away on March 19, 2024, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Funeral Mass was held on Monday, March 25, 2024, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, in rural Perham, with Fr. Tom Skaja officiating. Congregational Hymns were accompanied by Ann Koll. Pallbearers were Mike Klinnert, Chris Bernu, Wayne Dykhoff, Kyle Dykhoff, Michael Peeters, Erik Peeters, Marty Sazama, and Eric Palan. Honorary Pallbearers were Paul’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Paul was laid to rest at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, rural Perham.

Paul Martin Klinnert was born on January 12, 1955, in Perham, to Leo and Delores (Bickel) Klinnert. Paul was a lifelong member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church of Rush Lake being Baptized and Confirmed there. He grew up and was raised on the family farm in section 9 of Otto Township.

Paul was an avid outdoorsman throughout his entire life which included trapping, coon hunting, big game hunting, forestry, and developing some of the best deer habitat in the area.

Paul was also a lifelong sports fan and athlete in his younger years. Paul played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. Paul also played amateur baseball for the New York Mills Millers and umpired Legion baseball games until farming and family became more important. Later on in life Paul would briefly come out of “retirement” and play two more seasons for the Millers “old-timers” team.

Paul met Diane Werner in June of 1973 at a wedding dance at the Grand View Heights Ballroom on Big Pine Lake. Their first date was a night out racoon hunting. Paul would later sell three cows at the Perham Sale Barn and cash the check at the local jewelry store for an engagement ring for Diane.

On September 11, 1976, Paul and Diane were married at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Perham. They made their home on their newly purchased 200-acre dairy farm in Section 11 of Otto Township.

After operating a successful dairy farm for 25 years, Paul made the decision to sell his herd in August of 2001 and reinvent himself. After beginning a successful seed business in the 1990’s, Paul expanded his seed business in 2001 to include even more seed, fertilizer, and herbicides. Always the outdoorsman, always the farmer, Paul took his two passions and found a way to marry them together into a successful business. In 2006 Paul expanded his store to also include firearms, ammunition and other hunting and agricultural products.

In 2019/2020 Paul and Diane built their retirement home half mile west of their farm which in section 10 of Otto Township. Paul loved to say that he “never went far in life” being raised in Section 9, living in Section 11, and retiring to section 10 of Otto Township, all within two miles of each other.

Paul was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grand-grandfather. Paul loved to watch his sons play sports and their other activities. He never missed any of his son’s football games, basketball games, baseball games or band concerts.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents Leo and Delores Klinnert and his in-laws Al and Arlene (Steinbach) Werner. Paul is survived by his wife of 47 years Diane. Three sons, Jason (Bobbi) Klinnert of Crookston, Minn. Joshua Klinnert of Hopkins, Minn. Jesse (Deb) Klinnert of Mankato, Minn. Six Grandchildren: Casey (Karli) Delaney, Brady (Amelia), Bailee, Valor, Belle, and Crawford. Six Great-Grandkids: Jordyn, Lily, Elaina, Addison, Liam, and Mason Delaney. He is also survived by his siblings and in laws: John (Jackie) Klinnert of Underwood. Helene Johnson, Irene (Don) Dykhoff of Wadena. James (Victoria) Klinnert of Canton, Ga. Marilyn (Roger) Bernu of Baxter, Minn. Margaret (Craig) Palan of Wabasso, Minn. Mark (Joan) Klinnert of Kindred, N.D. Don (Janice) Werner of Lisbon, N.D. Rick (Pam) Werner, Deb (Tim) Meehl of Perham, and Terry (Tony) Peeters of Menahga.

Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to send Paul’s family a message of comfort and support.

Arrangements provided by Karvonen Funeral and Cremation Service of New York Mills.