Paul N. Pastor Jordahl

Paul Jordahl, 74, of Decorah, IA formerly of Westby died Monday, May 17, 2010. Rev. Paul N. Jordahl Paul Nathan Jordahl was born in Rugby, ND, April 15, 1936 to Oscar A. and Hildegarde (Moe) Jordahl. Paul grew up in North Dakota (Granville, Nome and Finley), graduating from Finley High School in 1954 and entered Concordia College in Moorhead, MN that fall. During his four years at Concordia, he played trumpet in the Concert Band and traveled two summers as a member of the Concordia Ambassadors Male Quartet. He received a Bachelor of Arts, English and Psychology in 1958. He taught school in Gwinner, ND for one year prior to entering Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Paul was commissioned as a volunteer teacher to Papua New Guinea by ALC Global Mission from 1961 to 1963 at which time he returned to Luther Seminary and received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1965. Paul married Jenine E. Peterson on June 12, 1965. They were blessed with two children: Erik and Kari. In July 1965 Paul and Jenine returned to Papua New Guinea where he served as Headmaster and Chaplain at Bumayong Lutheran High School. He continued under call from the ALC Division of Global Mission until 1975 when he accepted a call to the Westby Coon Prairie and Vang Lutheran parish, Westby, WI where he served for 27 years. Paul enjoyed traveling and learning about new places. This interest brought him to Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia en route to Papua New Guinea. Travels also included the Middle East, Hong Kong, Japan, Ethiopia, Rome, Ephesus, Corinth and Athens, England, Germany, Scotland and Scandinavia. He also traveled extensively in the U.S.A. He and Jenine retired to Decorah in 2002. They participated in the 2006 Guatemala Habitat Build. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and served as Visitation Pastor from July 2007 until March 2010 when he resigned due to illness. He sang in the Luren Singing Society (Norwegian Mens Chorus) as well as the First Lutheran Chancel Choir. Paul died on Monday, May 17, 2010 at his home, surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother David and sister-in-law Eloise Jordahl; nephews Rolf Jordahl and Joel Anderson; as well as uncles and aunts. Paul is survived by his wife, Jenine of Decorah; son, Erik (Christa McGarry and her daughter, Isabel) of Rochester, MN; daughter Kari (Jon) Tollefson of Rochester, MN; five grandchildren: Leah, Maren and Jonah Tollefson of Rochester, MN, Tugg and Solveig Jordahl of Steep Falls, ME; two sisters: Katherine (Quinton) Larson of New Brighton, MN and Norma (Elmo) Anderson of Fargo, ND; one brother, Dan (Penny) Jordahl of Billings, MT; sister-in-law, Lois Paulson of Austin, MN; nieces, nephews and extended family. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby, WI. Pastor Dennis Hallemeier and Pastor Julie Wollman will officiate. Burial will be in Coon Prairie Cemetery in rural Westby. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service at 1:00 P.M. in Westby. In lieu of flowers and plants memorials may be given to, Westby Coon Prairie/Vang Lutheran Parishs, Lutheran ELCA Disaster Response, ELCA Global Missions, or Lutheran World Relief.The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.