Paul William Gagne of Grandview, Missouri passed away on Thursday, January 7. 2021 at the age of 86. Paul was born to parents Alfonse & Jeannette (Janelle) Gagne in Fall River, Massachusetts and grew up one of seven children. He was a U.S. Marine Core veteran and served his country during the time of the Korean War. He married his wife of 63 years, Juanita (Frese) Gagne after they met when she won free dancing lesson at the Arthur Murray Studios in Kansas City, where Paul was her dance instructor. They married 5 months later. Paul worked in the construction industry and retired from his own construction company in 1988 after his diagnoses with Cardio Myopathy.
Paul was one of the 1st patients to receive the lifesaving Ventricular Assist Device (L-VAD) for his heart from the Kansas City Heart Institute in 2010 which blessed family and friends with Paul for these additional 10 years. Paul frequently supported the St. Luke’s LVAD team with participation in training and support sessions with Doctors, Emergency Responders and Health Care works on the LVAD and patient care training. Paul enjoyed reading non-fiction historical books on military ships, and he had a passion for model ship building having created historically accurate models of The HMS Victory and the San Felipe. Paul established a model ship builder club locally in 1995, The Square Riggers, where people with the same interest would meet monthly to discuss ships and ship building. This club created many lasting friendships for both Paul & Juanita. In 2014, Paul & Juanita welcomed “Zorro” into their home as a puppy from their good friends Ralph & Janet Martin, Zorro has provided many hours of joy and comfort to them over the last few years. Most recently he took an interest in his wife Juanita’s quilt making and over the past several years they enjoyed creating quilts together for family and friends.
Paul had many blessings throughout his life, and is survived by his wife Juanita Gagne, daughter Debra Gagne, daughter Jeanna Green and husband Troy Green, son Ed and wife Lori Gagne, and son William (Bill) Gagne and wife Shelly. Paul was blessed with 2 grandchildren John Paul Green, and Jordan Merissa Gagne; 3 step-grandchildren Jordon, Kody and Sara; 1 great granddaughter Joselyn and 3 step-great grandchildren Logan, Arya and Sona. He was also survived by sister Alice DeKoven and brother Norman Gagne. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Regina Sayles and Lorraine Morel, and brothers Louis Gagne and John Gagne.
During these times of national pandemic and keeping with Paul & Juanita’s wishes to keep all family and friends safe and healthy, the family will not be holding a memorial or funeral at this time. The family plans to celebrate Paul’s life once it is safe to gather together. According to Paul’s wishes he will be cremated. Services will be held at a later date. The family is grateful for the condolences, and in lieu of any flowers that donations be sent in his memory to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.
