David John Pauly, age 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on December 20, 2025. A memorial service will be held at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church on January 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on January 17, 2026.
David was born on March 2, 1940, to William and Clara (Faber) Pauly at the family farm near of Watkins. He graduated from Kimball High School in 1958. He briefly attended St. Thomas College, where he played football for one semester, before joining the Army Reserve in February 1959 for six months. On September 29, 1962, David married Esther Barbara Bates at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Watkins, Minnesota. Together they built a full and lively life, raising six children. David farmed near Watkins until 1980, during which time he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He later moved his family to farm west of Sebeka, Minnesota. Over the years, he worked in a variety of fields including construction, meat processing, and truck driving. He also proudly served as a member of the American Legion Color Guard. In 2009, David and Esther moved to Cold Spring, and last year he relocated to The Sanctuary in St. Cloud.
David was an avid reader, especially fond of Louis L’Amour novels. He enjoyed playing Farkle, working on puzzles, watching old western movies, and taking long walks. Deer hunting near Sebeka was a fun yearly event for David. He loved playing cards and had a reputation for being exceptionally good at them. He had a knack for spotting a good bargain at garage sales and loved finding treasures he thought his family could use. He delighted in sharing Ole and Lena jokes he clipped from the newspaper, always hoping to make us smile.
David is survived by his children: Steve Pauly; Allen (Kim Jehlik) Pauly; Mike (Deb) Pauly; Theresa (Jeff) Lange; Marge (Tom) Phillipp; and Diane Pauly; grandchildren Angela Jehlik, Ashley (Bryan) Motl, Jacob Pauly, MaTia Pauly, Luke Pauly, Olivia Pauly, Jonathan (Kendra) Lange, Grace Lange, Faith Lange, Joshua Lange, Colten Phillipp, and Sadie Phillipp.
David was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Esther Pauly; brother-in-law Don Ryan; and nephews Tom Ryan and Jason Pauly.
