Francis E. Paoli, 62, of Sunset Road, Ironwood Township, died peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, in his home, with his family by his side.    He was born Oct. 4, 1948, in Hancock, son of the late Louis and Leone (Musial) Paoli, and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood in 1966. He then attended Gogebic Community College, and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1972. During that time, he entered the U.S. Army in 1970, was transferred to reserve status in 1971, and was honorably discharged as a specialist five in July, 1976.      Fran worked in the family owned warehousing business, Cohodas-Paoli Co., from his teenage years through 1989, when the business was sold to Pacific Gamble Robinson. He then was employed with MFC First National Bank in Ironwood and was a graduate of Northern Michigan School of Banking in 1998. He continued his career with Wells Fargo Bank in Ironwood, currently as Business Banker and Community Bank president.      Fran was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and formerly served on the finance council, a member of Ironwood Knights of Columbus Council No. 1396, where he served as Grand Knight, district deputy and financial secretary, and was a member of Pere Menard Assembly No. 471, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He also was a member and past president of the Ironwood-Hurley Rotary Club, a member of Ironwood Amercian Legion Post 5, served on the Ironwood Theatre Board of Directors and other numerous boards in Gogebic County, and chaired the local U.P. Community Foundation. He enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing, and loved spending time with his family and friends at home and at the cottage on Thousand Island Lakes.          On Feb. 5, 1972, he was married to the former Linda M. Kivi at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Ironwood by the Rev. Jed Patrick. They recently celebrated their  39th wedding anniversary. Linda survives.      Also surviving are two sons, Gregory (Arina), Vadnais Heights, Minn., and Nathan (Sarah), Deerfield, Wis.; a grandson, Gabriel Francis Paoli, born Feb. 19, 2011, to Greg and Arina; his sister, Barbara (David) Patrick, Cibolo, Tx.; mother, Mary Paoli, Bradenton, Fla., and Ironwood; sisters-and-brother-in-law, Denise Paoli and Judy and Don Holst, all of Ironwood Township; very special aunts and uncles, Ralph and Mary Ann Paoli, Wausau, Wis., and Agnes Dahm and Marvin and Bette Musial, all of Manitowoc, Wis.; nieces and nephews, Mark (Terri) Patrick, Austin, Tx., Emily (Joe) Johnson, Minneapolis, Joe (Tammie) Paoli, Marinette, Wis., Nicholas Paoli, Calumet, Paul (Candace) Holst, Ironwood, and Shelly (Tito) Santini, Hurley, Wis.; and numerous grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.      Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Louis "Butch", on June 19, 2005.      Out of respect for Fran's wishes, cremation has taken place.      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Feb. 28, at noon, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant.      Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.        Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.      Spring burial will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township.      Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 a.m. until noon on Monday, where members of Pere Menard Assembly No. 471, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, will serve as honor guard.       In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Gogebic Community College Foundation, E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, Mich. 49938, for the Francis E. Paoli Business Scholarship to be established, or the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St., Ironwood, Mich. 49938.      To view Fran's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.      The family wishes to thank Aspirus Superior Home Health and Hospice for their compassionate services.