Leonard John Pauletti was born November 21, 1927 in Eveleth, MN. Leonard was a first generation Italian/American born to immigrants Alberto and Carmela Altobelli Pauletti of Montefalcone, IT. Leonard’s father came to America to work in the iron mines of northern Minnesota.
Leonard graduated in 1945 from Gilbert Minnesota High School at 17 years old. In January 1946 at the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Navy. Leonard served in Guam during the aftermath of WWII in the naval shipping and receiving department. In that capacity he met Lillian “Lee” Holm, who worked in Guam in the civil service. In 1947, Leonard was honorably discharged from the Navy and he and Lee moved back to Leonard’s home town of Gilbert, MN. They were later married that same year.
In 1948, Leonard enrolled at the Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis, earning a two year Technical Degree as a Carpenter. He and Lee moved to Salinas, CA in 1950 to work construction in a “warmer climate”! He moved to Lee’s hometown of Merced in 1951 to work at Cross Lumber and has been a Merced resident since that time.
Leonard loved construction and worked as a carpenter for 30 years and a general construction contractor for 20 years in Merced. For three years he worked as a Foreman on the San Luis Dam construction and built many projects in Merced County, including his home.
Leonard is a past President and lifetime member of the Italo-American Lodge; lifetime member of Club Mercedes; member of the American Legion (including the drum and bugle corps in the 1950’s); member of Merced Seniors Society and a past member of the Elks Club and the Merced Country Club.
Len was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Lillian Holm Pauletti; daughter, Caralinda Allen; infant daughter, Christina Pauletti; brother, Tony Pauletti; infant brother, Michael Pauletti and sister, Marietta Sandstrom.
He is survived by daughters, Janeen Pauletti of Merced. Kathleen (Steve) Carlsen of Newton, PA and Marianne (Wayne) Walker of Vacaville, CA; son-in-law, Dan Allen of Camas, WA; sister-in-law, Joyce Pauletti of St. Paul, MN; brother-in-law, James Holm of Atwater, CA; 7 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews in Minnesotta. He is also survived by wife, Penni Langley Pauletti.
A visitation will be held at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B St., Merced, CA on Thursday, June 19, 2014 from 4:00pm-7:00pm with Recitation of Rosary to be held at 6:00pm. Funeral services will be held at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home on Friday, June 20, 2014 at 10:00am with interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Leonard’s name to American Cancer Society, Merced/Mariposa Field Office, 301 W 18th St. Ste. 101, Merced, CA 95340.
Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.
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