With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Paul J. Bakken of Centennial, Colorado. His family will miss his sense of humor and larger than life personality. Paul departed on Sunday September 28th, 2025, at the age of 81.  

Paul was born in Des Moines Iowa on March 25, 1944 and was raised in Hinsdale Illinois by Lila (Palmer) and Bill Bakken. He was a 1962 graduate of Hinsdale Central High School where he participated in the band, playing the trombone and swam on the high school swim team, earning All-America honors swimming backstroke on the medley relay team. His swimming ability earned him a scholarship to swim at Iowa State University. He balanced his studies in the Engineering school with swimming in the Big 8 conference and earned a degree in Industrial Engineering. He is also a member of the πΚΑ (Pi Kappa Alpha) fraternity.  

His engineering degree took him to a variety of businesses from meat packing to power plants to wastewater and botanic gardens, showing his versatility and high IQ in contributing to a multitude of projects. He worked for Stearns Rogers and Brown and Caldwell through the foremost years of his career. 

Paul was a member of the Jaycee’s and served on their leadership team helping to run leadership classes and different fund raisers such as volunteering at Christmas tree lots each winter (probably to get a free Christmas tree). 

As a father, he coached his children in soccer and swimming, balancing high expectations with care for his teams that yielded positive results.  He also helped organize and run swim meets as the starter and stroke judge while also serving on the board of the Cherry Knolls neighborhood pool. 

As Paul’s children grew up and left the house, he enjoyed spending time at their pool with family and his favorite four legged friends Denny, Coffee, Foffee, Michelle, Chevy and Nicole. Needless to say, none of them went underfed. 

Paul is preceded in death by Lila Bakken (mother), Bill Bakken (father), Gail Goodhue (sister), Tom Adland (brother-in-law) and Jimi Adland (nephew). He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan; son, Todd of Parker, CO; son, Chad (Jen) of Lone Tree, CO; daughter Heidi Long (Dave) of Highlands Ranch CO; and grandsons (Blaine, Taylor, Caleb, Jack, Dawson and Luke), all of whom he had a strong relationship with and enjoyed. 

Memorial service will be at 5pm on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Lone Tree Golf Club: 9808 Sunningdale Blvd, Lone Tree, CO 80124. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the Caley Ridge team for their support and sense of humor with Paul while he was there. Memorials can be made in Paul Bakken’s memory to the Guide Dogs (https://www.guidedogs.com/) and Iowa State Foundation (https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/).