PAUL A. BIGNELL

Paul A. Bignell, age 73 of Westfield, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2015 at his home. He was born on April 2, 1942, son of Abner and Juanita (Scott) Bignell in Arkansaw, Wisconsin and was raised there with his brothers and sisters in a family of simple farmers. After finishing high school, he put himself through UW-River Falls before moving to Westfield and taking his first and only teaching job. He taught High School Ag Science, Ag Shop, Forestry, and ran the local FFA. He was an FFA advisor and spent a lot of his time off working with many of the local farmers. He was a voracious reader and never lost his love of the written word. Paul was part of the community in its total sense. He was a Lion, on the Lawrence Lake Association, and loved his part in running the Marquette County Fair. He was his children’s and grandchildren’s biggest booster, pushing them to do anything that they wanted to do. He got right into it with them as he was seen at snowmobile, motorcycle, wrestling, baseball events, and everything else they did. Many people didn’t know that he had an open door policy at his house and helped out where he could, with the kids of the community who needed it. Be it a couch to sleep on, food to eat, or just to talk things out. Paul loved to travel and see new things and he did this as often as he could. The three biggest loves in his life were his wife Donna, his boys, and all of his grandkids and great grandkids. Paul spent a lot of his retired time working with his son Matt at Bignell’s Power Sports watching it grow, and he loved every minute of it. Paul left this life as he lived it, doing it his way and of his own accord. Paul married Donna (Gruncel) Townsend on April 5, 2014.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; four sons, Patrick, David (Lisa) and Matt (Katie) Bignell, Troy (Annie) Gorton; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth (Justus) Spillner, Michael Bignell, Cassandra (Gregg) Bignell, Nichole (Matt) Baumann, Mitchell and Taylor Bignell, Emma and Trey Gorton; four great grandchildren; one sister, Vivian (Marvin) Heltne; four brothers, Clarence (Darlene), Kenneth (Judy), Thomas (Donna) and Steven John (Joan) Bignell; three step children; 11 step grandchildren; four step great grandchildren; other relatives and many friends. Paul was preceeded in death by his parents and one sister, Shirley Risler.