Paul R. Erickson

Paul R. Erickson, 67, of Prior Lake, passed away on August 10th. A Time of Gathering will be held in his honor on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake (4565 Pleasant St.) from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held for Paul on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Hometown Church in Lakeville (16165 Kenwood Trail) beginning at 11:00 AM with a visitation prior from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. 

On July 21, 1957, Rey and Reita Erickson were blessed with their third of 4 children; Paul. The family’s home was in Richfield where Paul would attend school. He was heavily involved in athletics at school and competed on the tennis, soccer and ski jumping teams. When he wasn’t at the school, he could be found at Woodlake Lutheran Church helping his parents who were heavily involved with the church. After graduating from Richfield High School, Paul attended the University of Minnesota and majored in Engineering. His internship took him to Virginia, MN before he moved back home to start work at Sperry and Lasermaster where he worked as a mechanical Engineer. He retired as a director from Sensata.

In his spare time, Paul found time to work on one of his great passions; his RV 7a airplane. He loved going to the Oshkosh airshow every year. 

Family was deeply important to Paul and had a huge impact on the decisions that he made. Paul and Kaye were married on December 15, 2001 and started their lives together as a new and bigger family. The families blended together and all the children were involved in the wedding. Together, the pair had 6 children that they would raise together. Paul was a soccer coach for many of his kids youth teams and passed along his love for music and the outdoors to them. When the title of “Grandpa” was given to Paul, he happily accepted it. His mastery of pancakes made him perfect for the job. Paul never missed an event for the grandkids and always showed an interest in whatever they did. 

Wise, charming and selfless, Paul will be missed greatly by his wife, Kaye; children, Alisha (Ryan) Clarey, Cammie (Robbie) Nelson, Becky (Greg) Westgard, Chelsey (Lyle) Gerety, Haley (Jesse) Michels, Joe Erickson; 13 grandchildren, McKenna, Caitlyn, Alannah, Logan, Greysen, Landon, Vince, Wrenen, Iver, Matthew, Aliyah, Shepard, Forest; siblings, John (Jan), Kristie (Mark), Emily (James); and many other loving relatives and friends. Paul is preceded in death by his parents; Reita and Rey Erickson.