Paul “Bud” Ward

In his final moments, he was happily watching Michigan State on the way to winning their first game of the 2024 NCAA basketball tournament. He was surrounded by his immediate family when he peacefully walked on to the Lord.

Called “Bud” by his family, he was born June 3, 1932, in Lanse, to the late Paul and Maude (Styckle) Ward. He grew up in L’Anse and was a graduate of Lanse High School, Class of 1950. Following graduation, he served as a Second Class QM2 in the United States Navy during the Korean War, from 1950 until 1954. After his honorable discharge, Paul returned home and graduated with honors from Michigan Technological University. He began his career as a chemical engineer and supervisor at the Kimberly Clark Paper Mill in Niagara, Wis. He and his family moved to Quinnesec, where he lived until the end of his life.

Paul married his high school sweetheart, Myrna (Koski) on December 18, 1954. They had two children: a daughter, Lori Ward, a minister of Word and Service with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who previously worked in communications for the performing arts, and son, Michael Ward, a physician with the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Other survivors are grandchildren, Molly, Adam, and Elijah; numerous and beloved nephews and nieces; great-grandchildren, Addy and Annsley; spouses, Steven; Eric; and Megan; Caregiver, Kaylee Lada; and the members of Golden K and Calvary Lutheran Church.

In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by three brothers, Richard, John and David Ward.

Paul was a faithful and active church member throughout his life, including more than 60 years of faithful service with Calvary Lutheran Church in Quinnesec. He was the Scoutmaster for the Quinnesec troop of the Boy Scouts of America for 13 years. He also volunteered with the Quinnesec Fire Department and Dickinson County Junior Achievement.

After his retirement, he was actively involved in Golden K, with an unending commitment to bingo days at local nursing homes and serving children with disabilities from throughout the region with a variety of special events. For more than 30 years, Paul and Myrna spent their winter months on Pine Island, Fla.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 6 at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.

A celebration of life will follow at noon at the funeral home, with refreshments after the service.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Paul’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iron Mountain to honor Paul’s legacy of life.