Paul Nathe

Paul A. Nathe, age 51 of St. Cloud, formerly of Sauk Centre, died Monday, February 9, 2015, at Opportunity Matters in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 12 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Jeremy Theis will officiate with interment following in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.

Paul Arnold Nathe was born August 8, 1963 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Arnold and Agnes (Schmidt) Nathe. On this special day Agnes drove herself to the hospital and later called to let the family know. Arnold was busy with the combine harvesting grain. One of the kids ran out to let him know his 13th child had arrived. Arnold loaded some grain in the family pick-up and drove into town to meet Paul. They were a little surprised when they saw him because they didn't know how special the boy would be. Paul was born with Down Syndrome. Paul came home a few days later to meet the rest of the siblings. He was #13 in the Nathe family and received with wonder and joy.

Paul was baptized in the Catholic faith at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Sauk Centre where Arnold and Agnes were faithful members until their death.

It seems Paul had a very special love with his mother. They really worked well together when on the farm. Paul had a special dog named Duke and I'm sure plenty of kittens. He loved the farm and hated to leave when mom and dad retired and moved to town.

Memories of Paul sitting in the seat of a tractor with an ice cream bucket on his head and driving that tractor like a farmer, farming like the rest of the Nathe boys, will be forever etched in our minds.

Paul moved to St. Cloud in August of 1983 where he met a new family which became a very large extension to his already large and still growing Nathe family. Paul joined the Opportunity Training Company (OTC) which provided a group home and additional training in his life journey.

In 1994 the OTC group was dissolved and Jim Christenson a Visionary from OTC decided he wanted to lead the charge to provide Opportunities for people with all kinds disabilities. Jim always said "No disabilities only Opportunities". Jim led the charge to find renewed funding, a new board, and Opportunity Manor, Inc., was born. Some 50 plus people were able to keep their home and accept every opportunity just like you and me. Paul's new families built 17 new homes, a new State of the Art office and facility which continues to provide numerous Opportunity for many people in the Tri county area of Stearns, Sherburne and Benton counties.

OMI was re-branded in 2012 as Opportunity Matters Inc., to represent all things that matter to people desiring a good home and family and face daily challenges of life.

Paul is survived by his brothers and sisters, Dorothy (Kenneth) Klaphake of rural Freeport, Joyce (John) Rutherford of St. Cloud, Richard (Jean) Nathe of St. Louis Park, Tom (Jean) Nathe of Sauk Centre, Michael (Maria) Nathe of Winsted, Geraldyn Dirkes of Albany, Mary (Dennis) Rieland of St. Augusta, Mark (Sue) Nathe of Wadena, John (Marilyn) Nathe of rural West Union, Ronald Nathe of Sauk Centre, and Laura Muehlenhardt of Alexandria; sister-in-law, Betty Nathe of Little Sauk; and countless loving nieces, nephews and families.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Agnes Nathe; oldest brother, Kenneth Nathe; grandparents, Regina and Henry Schmidt and Gerhardt and Anna Nathe; and nephew, Greg Dirkes.

Serving as casket bearers will be Richard Nathe, Tom Nathe, Mike Nathe, John Nathe, Ron Nathe, and Mark Nathe. Cross bearer will be Geri Dirkes and scripture bearer will be Dorothy Klaphake. Serving as honorary bearer will be Tina Metcalfe.

Memorials may be directed to Opportunity Matters, Inc., in Sartell, Minnesota.