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Paul B. Frair

DAYTON, Maine — Paul B. Frair, 95, passed away on February 28, 2018.

Paul was born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1922. He attended Park College, where he met his future wife, Audrey Berlin.

They married in Belton, Texas, where Paul was stationed just before he was deployed near the end of World War II.

Paul was a lieutenant in the Army and served as an ordinance recovery specialist in Occupied Japan.

After being discharged, Paul and Audrey moved to Houghton, where Paul attended and graduated from Michigan Tech University in 1950, with a degree in civil engineering.

Paul worked for Gundlach Construction for many years as the vice president and supervised the construction of many buildings at Michigan Tech as well as construction projects for the Tribal Counsel in Baraga and Watersmeet. He was the lead contractor for the artist Christo with the installation of the Running Fence in northern California and the Valley Curtain at Rifle Gap, Colorado.

Paul was a true Yooper. He loved the Copper Country and is remembered for his quick smile, friendliness and sense of humor.

He was active in many choirs, including the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, performed around the Copper Country as a member of a Barbershop Quartet and performed in multiple productions of the Calumet Players.

Paul served on the Houghton City Council, the Portage Lake School Board, was active as a Cub Scout Master, volunteered for Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly, Salvation Army, Goodwill Farm and was an active member of the Houghton Rotary Club, where he served many roles, including President, and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Audrey; his parents, Harold and Minnie Frair; and two sisters, Dorothy and Ruth.

Paul is survived by his children, Charles Frair of Portland, Maine, Peggy (Jeff) Olsen of Shoreview, Minnesota, Heidi Bresnahan of Dayton, Maine, and Kim Frair of St. Paul, Minnesota. He also has four grandchildren, Andrew, Haley, Charles and Paul.

A memorial service for Paul and Audrey Frair is being planned for this summer in Houghton.