Harry Walter Paa, age 81 of New Ulm died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, August 24, 2026.

A memorial service will take place at 11 am on Monday, August 31, 2026, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-South Chapel in New Ulm.

Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.

Visitations will be held from 3-6 pm on Sunday, August 30th and continue from 10-11 am on Monday, August 31st all at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-South Chapel in New Ulm.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Harry is survived by his wife, Karen Paa of New Ulm; his daughters, Melissa (Jerry Aspelund) Paa of New Ulm, Dawn Paa of Edgewater, Florida; his sons, Kevin (De) Paa of New Ulm, Mark Paa of New Ulm; Darren (Stephanie Cariveau) Paa of New Ulm; his 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; his brother, Carl (Elaine) Paa of New Ulm; his sister-in-law, Deanna Paa of New Ulm; his brother-in-law, Dennis Anderson of New Ulm; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Jacob Schaefer; his sisters, and brothers-in-law, Patsy and James Faye; Dorothy and Harvey Schultz; his sisters, Kathy Adams, Janet “Sis” Anderson; his brother and sister-in-law, John (LaVonne) Paa; and his brothers, Charles “Butch” Paa, and Kenneth “Babe” Paa.

Harry Walter Paa was born July 9, 1945, in New Ulm to Charles and Nita (Clyne) Paa. Harry grew up in Goosetown in New Ulm where he attended grade school. Early in his life, Harry developed a love for fast cars and working with his hands. He worked for years at AMPI and later at Skyline in New Ulm. Harry was united in marriage to Karen Brandl on February 23, 1985, in New Ulm. Harry later went into construction, where he worked building bridges and on other larger projects, including helping build the Vogel Arena predominantly with Heymann Construction in New Ulm. Most recently, Harry worked at American Artstone until his retirement in 2006.

Besides his work, there were a variety of hobbies and interests Harry enjoyed throughout his life. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed spending time fishing with family and friends, as well as hunting, especially pheasants. He also enjoyed bowling and had a deep appreciation for nature. Harry could often be found tending to his gardens or feeding the birds, taking great pleasure in the simple things found in the outdoors. Music was another important part of Harry's life. He loved listening to and singing loudly along with good old country music, especially the songs of Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, and others. He was also an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and enjoyed watching football and cheering on his team. When it was time to relax, Harry could often be found watching a good western or settling in for an evening game show.

Harry will be remembered for his quick wit, great sense of humor, and his ability to always have a good one liner ready. He had a way of making people laugh and left a memorable and lasting impression on everyone he met. But above all else, Harry's family was the most important part of his life. He loved his family deeply and would do anything for them. His presence, his humor, his stories, and the love he shared with those closest to him will be deeply missed. Harry leaves behind a lifetime of memories that will continue to bring smiles and laughter to those who were fortunate enough to know and love him.