Michael "Mike" Paquin, 74, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society, Waconia, MN where he had resided the last three weeks, and prior to that lived with his daughter and her family in Waconia since last fall.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday, July 25, 2025, with military honors at 6:30 PM followed by a prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service, Oklee, MN with Rev. Timothy Lundeen presiding. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2025, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Oklee, MN with Father Bryan Kujawa presiding. Burial will follow lunch at Asphult Cemetery, rural McIntosh, MN. Military honors will be provided by the Red Lake County Honor Guard and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Mike was born on September 9, 1950, in Crookston, Minnesota, and was the son of Adelore and Elizabeth (Paradis) Paquin. Mike attended Oklee Public School, graduating with the Class of 1968.

Mike entered service in the United States Army, serving from 1969 - 1971. He was originally bound for Vietnam but ultimately ended up being stationed in Germany, where he proudly served his country.

On April 24, 1971, Mike was united in marriage to Julie Strom at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee, Minnesota. To this union, three children were born: Michelle, Dusty, and Rebekah. The couple lived in the area for their entire lives, living on a small hobby farm for over 50 years, where he had space to "collect" and buy and sell all sorts of items (including the old Oklee water tower and bleachers from the school), which were all valuable to him.

Mike held a variety of jobs throughout his life. He worked for the City of Oklee, Swenson Farms, was a Watkins and a seed salesman, owned a limo/van service, and drove a mail van for Paradis Trucking. Eventually, Mike retired early due to his heart disease/disability. While he lived with a chronic illness for most of his adult life, and then losing his hearing the last ten months of his life, he always had a positive outlook.

In his free time, Mike loved to play cards, especially pinochle (he always beat his brothers), and he also loved to visit with friends, neighbors, and anyone who had time to chat. He could often be found driving his beloved Dodge truck, enjoying garage and auction sales, always on the lookout for a good deal. He enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, true crime shows and listening to Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton.  In his later years, he enjoyed providing rides to members of the Amish community.

Mike was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee and proudly belonged to the American Legion Post.

Survivors include three children: Michelle (Steve) Mack of Waconia, MN, Dusty (Jen Kline) Paquin of Annandale, MN, and Rebekah (Tracy) Brandt of San Tan Valley, AZ; grandchildren, McKenzie Mack and Liam Brandt; step-grandchildren, Ty (Linnea) Kline and Taylor Kline; siblings: Catherine (George) Simonson of Cudahy, WI, Theresa Malicki of Milwaukee, WI, Mary (Tom) Bergman of Iowa City, IA and Lisa (Warren) Tvedt of Red Lake Falls, MN, Roland (Bonnie) Paquin of Clayton, NC, Gerald (Kris) Paquin of Billings, MT, Timothy (Eileen) Paquin of Warroad, MN, Patrick (Kathy) Paquin of Erskine, MN and Wayne Paquin of St. Joseph, MN; sisters-in-law Bonnie Paquin of Champlin, MN, Joyce Paquin of Oklee, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

Mike is preceded in death by his wife, Julie on April 16, 2024; his parents; brothers: Gary Paquin, Stephen Paquin and Allen Paquin; brother-in-law, Leo Malicki; and nephew, Andy Paquin.

The family suggests donations to be given to Oklee Area Veterans' Memorial or Asphult Cemetery.

Mike had many sayings, and his family wants to share a few of them, "Where's the fire?" (meaning don't drive too fast/slow down),  "Keep'r cool" (a parting goodbye) and "Figure it out".

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com