Paul Basaraba

Paul Basaraba was born in 1949 to Nick Basaraba and Marie Maguire in Belfield, North Dakota. He was the oldest of three children. Paul volunteered to enlist and proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. He was a paratrooper, Army Ranger and radio operator. He was honorably discharged in 1969 after being wounded in combat and subsequently awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained. He earned a Bronze Star with Valor device for heroism during the same fire fight on that day. In 1970 he met his life partner while they were cruising Broadway, in downtown Portland. Rhonda Rosenau became his wife in 1971. Paul was a retired veteran but was extremely proud of being a stay-at-home father to raise his two daughters while Rhonda worked. Paul loved his daughters dearly and they were his life.

He is survived by his caring wife, Rhonda, to whom he was married to for 47 years. He is also survived by his two daughters and grandchild, Rachelle, Jennifer and Benjamin, and his sister Susan Holt.

Paul was an active hunter, lover of nature and very involved with shooting firearms, for recreation and competition. Though Paul would claim that his best attribute was his sense of humor, he will be fondly remembered for his bravery, caring and protecting for his family and honoring and respecting this great nation of ours. The family will have a formal, private military service at Willamette National Cemetery at a later date.