Larry Lowell Paul, 80, of Faribault, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis due to complications following a heart attack and stroke.
Larry was born on December 20, 1943, in Faribault, to Lowell and Ruth (Lippert) Paul and spent his early childhood on the family farm, developing a work ethic that was a defining characteristic of his for the rest of his life. As the family grew, Lowell and Ruth moved the Pauls to town, but Larry would later discover you could take the boy off the farm but not the farm out of the boy.
He graduated from Faribault High School with the class of 1961, got married and had a daughter. He chased his lifelong dream of owning a farm, renting land in multiple locations, and ultimately operating a dairy farm near Castle Rock that he deeply loved. As often happens, business was difficult, and Larry once again left the farm, this time for a bartending job at Faribault’s iconic Lavender Inn.
As it turned out, there was life after the farm for Larry. The Lavender Inn was how Larry met Allyn MacKay, and act two of his life began. He married Allyn on December 17, 1976.
It wasn’t long until they weren’t just partners in life, but also in business. Larry’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to a role selling insurance for Prudential and then to the most substantial position of his career: owner of A&L Janitorial. Together with Allyn, Larry launched the family business that they, their kids, and a few other employees ran for 20 years. Having cleaned many local businesses at all hours of the day for two decades, Larry traded in business ownership for a stable schedule and spent the last leg of his career as a custodian at St. Olaf College, retiring in 2017.
He is survived by daughters, Jamie Jensen of Lakeville, Melynda “Mandy” Paul of Faribault, and Dani (Jon) Minnick of Eagan; son Sean (partner Christine) Howie of Cannon Falls; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Ron Paul of Eagan, Denny (Karen) Paul of Eden Prairie, and Jim Paul of Woodbury; sister Patty (Al) Caron of Forest Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa Chappuis, in 2006; by sisters-in-law Mary Paul and Lauri Paul; and by his parents.
A private family memorial service was held.
In lieu of flowers, help us remember Larry by watching “Gunsmoke” or a Hallmark Christmas movie, Larry’s not-so-guilty pleasures.
