Paul E Bodine, 88, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2019, at Benedictine Manor in La Crosse. He was born on October 3, 1930, in Oakland CA to Paul (Sr) and Dagmar (Christophersen) Bodine. Growing up in a Salvation Army family, they moved often throughout the Western states. He graduated from Junior College in Phoenix,received a Master’s Degree from Pasadena College, and then attended the Salvation Army Training College.

Paul was considered a champion chess player, loved classical music, and was an avid swimmer.

Later, he went on to attend San Francisco Theological Seminary where he and his first wife, Mary, became parents of their three children. Following graduation, he worked on a doctoral dissertation thesis of over 1000 pages that was never finalized (ABT). He accepted a position teaching philosophy at Walla Walla College in Washington.

In the 70’s Paul served as Campus Minister at Iowa State University. During that time, he was divorced. Later he pastored two small churches in Washburn and La Porte City, Iowa. It was during that time he met and married Bev in 1983. Several years later he was offered an interim Executive Presbyter position in Storm Lake Iowa, followed two years later by a similar position in the Milwaukee Presbytery. He retired in 1995 and 5 years later he and Bev moved to Onalaska.

The family wishes to thank Benedictine Manor for Paul’s wonderful care.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sylvia and his brother Bob.

Survivors include his wife Bev of Onalaska WI; son Michael (Laura) and daughters Kathryn and Paula all of Ramona CA; stepson Jon (Annette) Olson of Baton Rouge LA and stepdaughter Renae (Curt) Boehmer of Sioux Falls SD; also grandchildren Korey, Heather (Chris) and Cooper; and step-grandchildren Lindsay, Kyle, Nick, Charla, Crystal and Noah; brother-in-law Bill Birks of Seattle WA.

Funeral services will be held Monday August 12 at 11:00 a.m. at The Presbyterian Church in West Salem, 625 Franklin St. W. Visitation with family present on Sunday from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Prairie Room at the Gathering Place (Coulee Region Cremation Group), 133 Mason St, Onalaska. Memorials preferred to Presbyterian Church of West Salem, Gundersen Medical Foundation or charity of your choice.