Paul (Stagg) Steigerwald

Paul’s prayers were answered when God called him Home on Sunday, August 23.  Paul (Stagg) Steigerwald's memorial service will be 11:00 am, Monday, August 31st at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to the service.   Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.  Funeral services are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org

His memorial service will be livestreamed via, www.calvarywillmar.org

Paul Bernard Steigerwald was born in Chicago. As a young child, he moved with his family to the New London and Willmar area, was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church, and graduated from Willmar High School. He always joked he only spent 15 minutes in college! Some of Paul’s happiest times were when he became a father to his beloved son and daughter, Todd and Nichole, and when he later married Susan Schmidgall, or as he always said, “My Susan,” on May 17, 1989.  

Paul loved deeply. Above all else, he treasured his faith, family, friends, and Lake Florida. Being a husband, father, and grandfather were his most cherished roles. A gentle, caring, and chill father, Paul was active in Todd’s and Nichole’s activities as they grew up. He taught them to downhill and water ski, and how to drive, on the dirt roads around the lake– a tradition Paul repeated with his granddaughters. He was extremely excited when two more Pauls joined the family: his son-in-law, Paul Springer, and great-grandson, Brooks Paul Anderson.

From his earliest memories, Lake Florida was truly Paul’s happy place- hanging out with his siblings and cousins, then Susan, Todd, and Nichole, and later his beloved granddaughters Maddie and Emma. He was thrilled to welcome the family’s fourth generation, Brooks, to Lake Florida. Pontoon rides and happy hours and sitting on the deck with Susan, gazing at the lake were other favorite pastimes. Traveling was another of Paul’s loves. He and Susan enjoyed many grand adventures traveling around the country and abroad. The Dingle Peninsula in Ireland and the Steigerwald region in Germany were favorite destinations. The “high school graduation” trips with his granddaughters and Schmidgall nieces, annual Mystery Trips, and travels with his father and dear friends were extra special to Paul.

 Paul was richly blessed with that big, beautiful voice. Throughout his lifetime, he remained humbled by and grateful for that distinctive and career-defining gift from God. Paul’s broadcast career came full circle - debuting at KWLM in 1957 when he was a teen-ager riding his bike to the station, to his final sign-off from the KWLM “Live at Five with Paul Stagg” show in 2019. Paul was an announcer at WCCO Radio in Minneapolis for the bulk of his career, he managed and owned radio stations and was a sought-after voice talent. For six decades, he entertained and informed radio listeners and television viewers across Minnesota, with a brief stop in Fargo, and was honored to be inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Paul was always there for family and friends. He was an active community volunteer and he and Susan served as a host family for the Children’s Program of Northern Ireland for many years. Paul was quick to lend his time and his voice to recordings, voiceovers, and emcee gigs for local organizations. While living at the Montevideo Veterans Home during his last years, he created a live interview show, bringing in special guests for his fellow veterans. Paul proudly served his country and truly found his people along with many new friendships at the VA Home.

Paul was loving, kind, generous, and funny - still cracking jokes with his family and his nurses in his final days. He is deeply loved, well-remembered, and will be missed beyond measure. Paul’s was a life well-lived. How blessed we are to still hear his wonderful voice.

Left to cherish Paul’s memory are his beloved wife, Susan; son, Todd Paul Steigerwald; daughter and son-in-law, Nichole and Paul Springer; the lights of his life granddaughters, Maddie (Kaleb) Anderson and Emma (Dylan Giorgio) Springer; great-grandsons, Brooks Paul and, coming soon, a second Baby Anderson; siblings, Donald Steigerwald, Ane (Pearce) Rogers, and Jean (Steven) Rasmussen; brothers in-law, Steven (Debra Wensman) Schmidgall, and Jim Schmidgall; nieces and nephews; and so many special friends and colleagues.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Dorothy (Petersen) Steigerwald, his mother and father-in-law, Barbara and Gilbert Schmidgall, and the pet loves of his life - Segue, Bailey, and Roxy.

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