Ordell Lee Paulson, of Glenwood, Minnesota, passed away, on Saturday morning, May, 31, 2014 at the Glenwood Village Care Center. Lee's death was due to cancer and a serious fall, breaking his hip a week ago. Lee was born in Granite Falls, Minnesota January 18, 1925 to Laura (Hustad) Paulson and Thorvald Paulson. He had one brother, Arnold Paulson. Lee served in WW II in the South Pacific and upon returning to the states after the war, he attended Hamline University, graduating at the top of his class.  Lee's love for literature led him to majors in English Literature, Philosophy, Religion, and Theater.  He taught in a small town in southern Minnesota for three years.  Lee, won a Fulbright scholarship to Japan, and taught English for three years in high schools and the University of Tokyo. Upon returning from Japan, Lee joyously moved to Glenwood, where he taught English for 37 years, directed school plays and earned one of the best records in the state in one-act play competition.  During the summer months, Lee directed Show Stoppers, involving parents of his students, and later, many of his adult former students. For over two decades, Lee carefully selected exchange students from all over the world, who shared his interest in the arts, theater, music, museums, etc.  Those amazing young students enriched his life and had their own lives enriched, as they experienced America through eclectic church experiences and the wonderful cultural offerings throughout the midwest. Lee's primary family was that of his brother, Arnold, whose family lived in Granite Falls. Lee was an integral part of the family from the very beginning. When Arnold passed away in 1980, Lee embraced his niece Connie, and his nephews Roger, Mark, and David, as though they were his own children. He continued a strong friendship with Alice, Arnold's wife, providing rich and loving support of the family without which life would have been greatly diminished. It was with them that he celebrated all of the holidays, family reunions and special family events for over sixty years. It was Lee to whom the children owe their language skills. Lee also enjoyed the many cousins and Norwegian relatives who lived in the towns and on the farms in Southwest Minnesota. Lee had a deep personal Christian faith but he never let denominational orthodoxy get in the way of religious and philosophical explorations.  Seldom would Lee be found without a pile of books including a wide scope of literature, poetry, religion, and philosophy. Lee would read three or four books a day with amazing comprehension.  It was only poetry that slowed his rapid reading. With poetry Lee would savor each word as though it were a piece of fine Swiss chocolate. Over the years, Lee donated three to four thousand books to various libraries, after he had read them and had no where else to put them. Lee loved a good debate.  His leftist political views, which were shaped by Jesus' Sermon the Mount, often brought him into conflict with the politics of selfishness, war mongering, racism, sexism, and limits on personal freedoms.  He loved a good argument, and sincerely loved those who offered a contrary opinion. The center of Lee's existence was Glenwood, Minnesota and the surrounding communities. He loved the people. He celebrated the Norwegian-Scandinavian heritage of the area. Lee would talk on and on about the special nature of life near Lake Minnewaska, the depth of character in the people who lived there, the school system that had given him so much joy and richness of experience, and the love from the people who enjoyed his complex personality, his idiosyncrasies, and the myriads of contributions that he made to the city of Glenwood. There is little doubt that he will be deeply missed by the thousands of lives that he touched during the six decades that he  called Glenwood home. There will be two memorial services, both currently scheduled for Sunday, July 13. In the afternoon, there will be a celebration of his life in the auditorium at Central Square where he directed most of his plays.  Those who would like to tell stories, sing songs, read poetry, dance, or perform a skit from a play long ago, should send an email, with your name/s and the nature of your performance to to be included in the program.  There will also be opportunities for ad hoc contributions. (More details will follow.) On Sunday evening, there will be an old fashioned revival service at Glenwood United  Parish.  The hymns, Bible readings, and special music have been selected by Lee.  Everyone is welcome irrespective of religious affiliation or irreligious disposition. After all, it was those who have a deep and abiding faith in the non-existence of a deity who brought out  some of Lee's best thinking. We of Lee's immediate family would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of Lee's life long friends, students, shop keepers, fellow educators, intellectual combatants, cat lovers, theater goers, theater volunteers, the newspapers that published his letters to the editor, and amateur thespians, for a lifetime of love that you have extended to Lee.  We thank you beyond our ability to express gratitude. The Family of Ordell Lee Paulson