Paul Michael Haataja

Paul Michael Haataja, age 40, was called to his heavenly home on May 18, 2017, six short months after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He was born on July 26, 1976 in Park Rapids, Minnesota, the firstborn of Marjorie and Kevin Haataja.

Paul spent most of his childhood in the Menahga, Minnesota area. He lived across the road from his grandparents, and loved to spend time helping his grandpa on the farm. He was also his mom’s right hand, often sighted at church with one little sibling on his hip and another clinging to his hand.

When he was nine, Paul went to Stony Lake Camp to babysit his siblings while his mom was serving at the Language Camp. It was there that he decided he’d like to go to opisto someday. Shortly after graduating from Menahga High School in May of 1994, Paul moved to Finland to fulfill his dream of attending opisto. There at the school, he met the love of his life, Hanna Hentila. After the school year at opisto ended, Paul moved back to Minneapolis and spent a brief year studying at the University of Minnesota. In 1996, his heart drove him back across the ocean, and he and Hanna were married on December 28, 1997 in Kuusamo, Finland.

Paul earned his Bachelor’s in Software Engineering while living in Finland. He worked many years for Nokia, and most recently for Microsoft. His work gave opportunity for moves, and Paul and Hanna experienced life together in Finland, Texas and Washington. They finally settled in Snohomish, Washington, and spent the last ten years happily raising their family in the country.

Paul was a faithful and loving husband, father, son, brother and friend to all. He willingly and joyfully served God’s Kingdom, not only as a servant of the Word, but in his deep love of music. From the time he was a little boy, music was very important to Paul. He would break out in song in the middle of any task, and as he grew older, his deep voice could often be heard resonating with Songs of Zion.

Paul is survived by his wife of twenty years, Hanna; eight daughters: Linda, Laura, Sofia, Roosa, Ellie, Alena, Aava and Lydia; two sons: Anton and Leevi; his mother, Marjorie; his father, Kevin; brothers: Eric (Rachel), Mark (Kirstie), Scott (Carrie), Ross (Megan), Brent (Codi), and Darren; two sisters: Kara and Janel; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and too many friends to count. He was preceded in death by his four grandparents: Albert and Beatrice Haataja and Eli and Hilda Hyrkas.