Paul Wayne Vallem, age 72, of Hayward, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center, Hayward, Wisconsin, after a valiant fight against cancer.

Paul was born on December 2, 1952, in Hayward, Wisconsin to Raymond and Edith (Louis) Vallem. He was raised in Hayward and Spooner, graduating high school at Spooner in the class of 1971. He then attended Northwoods Technical College in Rice Lake, Wisconsin where he earned a welding certification. For a time, he worked as an underwater welder on an oil rig off the coast of California and later as an automotive welder. Paul then joined the US Marine Corp and was trained at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He was then stationed on Adak Island, Alaska for the duration of his military service.

Paul was always an adventurer, living in Wisconsin, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and finally returning to Hayward, Wisconsin where he settled down and spent the remainder of his life. Paul, along with Chris Smith, processed wild rice for many Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan residents each fall for the past 20+ years at the small processing plant they inherited from their two fathers. Paul loved cooking, was a wood carver and furniture craftsman by hobby, and enjoyed life at his home on the Namekagon River.

Paul is survived by two sons, Jason Vallem of Hector, Arkansas and Raymond Vallem of Hayward, Wisconsin; by two grandchildren, Troy Vallem and Sarah Vallem of Arkansas; by three sisters, Elaine Grainger of Hayward, Irene (Charles) Graves of Parker, Arizona, and Judy Hooker of Houston, Texas; one sister-in-law Emily (Craig) Vallem of North Carolina; and six nieces and one nephew.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline (Hargett) Vallem by just one year. He was also preceded by his parents, Ray and Edie Vallem, and his brothers Lawrence Vallem and Craig Vallem.

Last Update: Feb 20, 2025 1:08 pm CST