Paul James Ausland

Paul James Ausland, 91, of Columbus, GA passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at St. Francis Hospital. Memorial services will be held at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA on Friday, February 10, 2023 beginning at 11:00 AM with Rev. Rodney Porter officiating.

Paul was born on June 4, 1931 in Little Falls, Minnesota to Elmer A. and Edith H. Ausland. He attended a one-room Morrison County, Minnesota school for the eight years of his primary education, his freshman and sophomore years at the Little Falls public high school, and his junior and senior years at the Pillager, Minnesota Consolidated School, with graduation in 1949. After a break in his education, Paul received his B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in August, 1973, and his M.S. degree from Stout State University in Menomonie, Wisconsin in June of 1974.

In 1952 Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army and was discharged after serving 21 months of active duty, including nine months of combat duty during the Korean Conflict. Afterwards, Paul served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve and was discharged as Sergeant First Class.

Paul’s employment through the years included banking, real estate sales, counselor for alcoholism, work skills evaluation, and, finally as a testing and counseling psychologist. His employment took him from Minnesota, to Georgia, to Wisconsin, and back to Minnesota.

After retirement, Paul spent some time in Lower Valley, Texas and then Columbus, Georgia. He spent several years there with the Muscogee Literacy Program, Post Office Advisory Committee, and in law enforcement at both the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department.

Paul was an active member of the Striplin Terrace United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, sister Avis Faith, and his first wife Marilyn. He is survived by his second wife Nancy Carrol Ausland; stepson Steven Wade Collins and his wife Amanda and their three sons Caden, Bryson, and Everett; niece Cheryl Reller, nephew Bennett Berg, and cousins Marvin Ausland and Elsie Hunnel.