Ronald Paradis, 82, died Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at First Care Hospital in Fosston, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, MN with Father Chuck Huck presiding. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Brooks, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, March 26, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, MN and from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Saturday at the church.

Ronald James Paradis was born on the family farm on May 1, 1927 in Terrebonne, MN the second of eleven children born to Ernest and Dora (Laundry) Paradis. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Terrebonne and also attended school there.

Ron served in the United States Army near the end of World War II from 1945 through 1947 with the First Calvary Division in Japan and was Honorably Discharged in 1947. He returned home for some farming, small business ventures and on November 3, 1949 married Dellas Mercil at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, MN.

Ron was activated back into service with Fox Company, Second Batallion, 136th Infantry, Minnesota Army National Guard on January 16, 1951. He was deployed to Korea as a Master Sergeant and assigned to Love Company, 31st Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, the Bayonet Division. The single most costly day in casualties of the war for the 31st Regiment occurred October 14, 1952. Thats the same day Ron was injured. 56 years, 7 months and 14 days after combat, Ron was awarded his Purple Heart on May 28, 2009.

Ron and Dellas made their home in Brooks, MN and to this union five children were born, Bryan, Roger, Carol, Arnie & Lonnie. In the mid 1950s they purchased the grocery store in Brooks. In the 1960s, Ron was awarded his first United States Postal route contract; he worked for the oil pipeline, the Minute-Man missile sites in North Dakota, owned and operated the buses for the Brooks School District, co-owned Par Feeds and owned the Brooks Gas Station/Antique Shop. In 1977, Ron co-owned Paradis Mail Service Inc. with Bryan, Roger and Arnie until 1985 when Lonnie took over his share of the business.

Coin and antique collecting were Rons passion. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, a good game of cards, story telling, and playing practical jokes on family and neighbors.

Ron was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks; was a member of the American Legion Post #623 in Plummer; the VFW Post in Red Lake Falls; and was a 4th Degree member of the Knights Of Columbus. He was the vice president, then president of the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association. Ron served as the mayor of Brooks and played a leadership role in the first Blast To Brooks celebration.

Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years, Dellas; children, Bryan (Eldora) Paradis, Roger (Mary Jane) Paradis, Carol (Leland) Saga, Arnie (Pam) Paradis and Lonnie (Kenya) Paradis; grandchildren, Jeremy Hanson, Sarah (Chad) Overland, Samantha (Joe) DiMaggio, Heather (Todd) Nelson, Heidi (Jeremy) Bloedow, Lea (Rick) Saga-Leiser, Lacey & KayLee Saga, Ryan, Chelsey & Ethan Paradis, Amanda, Spencer, Olivia & expecting newborn Paradis; great-grandchildren, Kaleigh Neil, Savannah, Summer & Brooke Overland, Alexa & Kallyn DiMaggio, Blair & Brynn Nelson, Baylor, Mya & Aubrey Bloedow, Reeve & Layne Leiser; brothers and sisters, Henriette Pete (Jim) Stitch, Ruth Carriere, Mark (Donna) Paradis, Donald Paradis, Irene (Bob) Miller, Grace (Duane) Stucy, Patty Brower; sister-in-law, Pheba Paradis; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Paquin; brothers, Robert & Tom Paradis; brothers-in-law, Adelore Paquin, Onezime Champagne, Fred Carriere and Richard Mussatti.