Louis Stefano Paoli, 90, of Ironwood, Mich., prominent retired businessman, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, while a patient at the Aspirus Wausau General Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin.      Louis was born in Hancock, Mich.on May 29, 1919, son of Ida and Raffaello Paoli, Italian immigrants to the United States.   He spent his childhood in Hancock and attended St. Patrick Grade and High Schools.   He was very proud of the fact that he had served in the U.S. Naval Reserves during those high school years, until he graduated in 1937.   Following graduation he entered Marquette University-Milwaukee School of Business and graduated in 1941.   Following graduation he was accepted at Marquette's School of Law and attended until he enlisted in the US Army in June of 1942.   Louis was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, served under General Patton in France and was wounded in combat at the Moselle River.   He was awarded the Purple Heart and won the European Theater of Operations Medal and was honorably discharged on June 20, 1945.           Louis married Leone Musial of Manitowoc, Wisconsin on April 15, 1943. She preceded him in death on February 14, 1967.   A son, Louis R. "Butch" Paoli also preceded him in death on June19, 2005. A daughter, Barbara Lee (David) Patrick, and son, Francis Edward (Linda) Paoli, survive.           Louis had a varied and successful business career. Following his discharge from the Armed Forces, he, his brother Ralph, brother-in-law, Chester Guidotti, and the Cohodas Family, owned and managed a network of food and produce warehouses and shipping points located in Michigan, Wisconsin and the West Coast which grew to be the second largest family owned jobber in the United States.   The company merged with Pacific Gamble Robinson in 1982 and operated until the entire corporation was sold to Food Services of America of Kent, Washington which today operates on a national basis.   After being retired for one year at the age of 67, Louis, along with Ralph Pertile, formed and managed Lakes Distributing Inc, a candy and tobacco company, which was later sold to the Corbley family of Hurley and operates today under their management.   In 1965, he, along with Joe Peters, William Johnson, and Ray Lutwitzi, formed the Kodiak Corporation of Bessemer, Michigan which manufactured fishing rods.   They, along with Charles Santini, David E. McDonald Sr, and Chester Peterson, comprised the board.   In 1985, the company was sold to a Minnesota firm      Louis was equally active in community service at all levels. As a young man he joined the Knights of Columbus and held all of the offices in the Third Degree as well as District Deputy for the State Council.   He was named Michigan State Council Knight of the Year in 1965.   He was also a member of the Pere Menard General Assembly 471 of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and was the oldest living member of that assembly at the time of his death.   He was a lifetime member (55 Years) of the Elks Lodges in Hancock and Ironwood and Bradenton, Florida (where he vacationed over the past 20 years), and was a member of the Sons of Italy, Ironwood American Legion Post 5 and Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood.    Louis supported the Legacy of Faith Foundation for the Diocese of Marquette, established to financially enhance education in the Catholic schools in Upper Michigan.       Louis served on many local community boards including Go, Inc., which was established to promote new industries in the area along with the Ironwood Planning Commission, The Ironwood Kiwanis Club, The National Italian American Foundation, and numerous other organizations.   He also served on the Board of Directors for National Metals Bank of Ironwood, First National Bank of Ironwood, and MFC First National Bank of Ironwood from 1962 until 1994.   In 1984, he was named president of MFC First National and held that position until 1988.    Louis also was a member of the Michigan Financial Corporation Board of Directors in Marquette, MI and held that position for many years .         On June 4, 1969, he was married to the former Mary Gentile.   She survives.      Also surviving are a daughter, Barbara Lee (David) Patrick, a son, Francis Edward (Linda) Paoli, a daughter in law, Denise (widow of Louis R. "Butch") Paoli, and six grandchildren, Mark (Terri) Patrick, Gregory (Arina) Paoli, Nathan Lee (Sarah) Paoli, Emily (Joseph) Johnson, Joseph (Tammie) Paoli and Nicholas Paoli.   Louis is also survived by great grand children, Hannah and Rachel Patrick, Louis Max Johnson, Vin Marco Paoli and Mila Johnson.     Survivors also include a brother, Ralph (Mary Ann) Paoli, a sister-in-law, Esther (Angelo) Schiavetti, a brother-in-law, Eugene Gentile, sister-in-law Agnes (James) Dahm, and brother-in- law Marvin (Betty) Musial. A sister, Louise Paoli Guidotti, and brother-in-law, Chester Guidotti, along with a sister-in-law, Veronica (Bill) Marienthal preceded him in death.   In addition, numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews survive.       He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.   He enjoyed his family and friends in Ironwood, Bradenton, Florida and at his lake home on Thousand Island Lake in Watersmeet, Michigan where he spent his summers.     He will be deeply missed by all who loved him.   Louis will be remembered as a patriot and a community minded citizen with a lively sense of humor and a wonderful positive attitude.      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant, and the Rev. Msgr. James Kaczmarek, concelebrant.      Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post #5 Honor Guard.      Members of Pere Menard General Assembly 471 will serve as honor guard and honorary pallbearers.      Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Houghton.      Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.          In lieu of flowers, please consider the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-a-Student Program, the Legacy of Faith Foundation, or the Gogebic Community College Foundation and Scholarship Fund.        On line condolences may be expressed to the Family of Louis S. Paoli at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com .      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood .