Paul Earl Thorston Fornell

Paul Earl Thorston Fornell passed away at the Veterans' Association hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado on Wednesday November 5th 2025. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 215t 1936, he was the eldest son of Sharon and Frances Fornell.

Paul grew up in Central City, lowa, where he met his wife, Sandra Hutchins. He became an Eagle Scout in 1953 and, as an avid swimmer, was a life guard in High School. He graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, lowa and went on to serve in the US Army for two years. It was during his time in the service that he married Sandra, his High School sweetheart - a marriage that lasted 66 years until his death.

Paul and Sandra settled in Warsaw, Illinois in 1963 where they raised their two children, Pamela and Peter. Always his own boss, Paul ran his first business, Warsaw Feeds (a livestock feed manufacturing factory) for many years. He later built up and ran a successful business selling composted rice hulls to the nursery industry.

On retirement, Paul and his wife moved to Englewood, Florida where they lived for 21 years and he was able to pursue his passion for fishing and boating - even becoming a boat pilot earning him the title of Captain. Another of his passions was making hand-made bamboo fly fishing rods, something he continued doing to the end of his life. Paul and Sandra moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in April 2024 in order to be closer to family.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and Nils. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, children Pamela (and her husband Arild) and Peter and their five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In leu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) https://heroes.vfw.org/page/175227/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=furthersearch&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23088187598&gbraid=0AAAAAC9BwUVy2QrhtHkPXK1agJkW09X-U&gclid=CjwKCAiAw9vIBhBBEiwAraSATl3-WYwUz7uDOOyWdagseY-NrU4xht9Hjpx-NM4SMbTULVjqYYGmPBoCUrgQAvD_BwE