Paul Raugust, born June 29, 1945, in Thal, Austria—the same village that produced Arnold Schwarzenegger—passed away on September 2, 2025. He was the son of Karl Raugust and Emilia Walbauer, and brother to the late Burt Raugust and surviving sister, Vickey Vogel.
Paul lived a life filled with music, words, and ambition. In his younger years, he was a talented musician who even played with the Stampeders during the early days of rock and roll, before country music shifted the scene. His love for storytelling led him to journalism, a career he pursued with passion from his early 20s until his mid-50s.
Paul also had an entrepreneurial spirit. Inspired by his son Jason, he founded The Myna Bird, with the first store opening in Thornbury, Ontario. What began as a small venture grew into seven stores before changing hands years later. He went on to work as a district manager with Combined Insurance for five years, before a back injury forced him into early retirement.
He is survived by his children, Ben and Jason, and his grandson Kael.
Though life was not without its challenges, Paul left behind lessons, memories, and the echoes of a strong spirit that touched those who knew him. His family will remember him with love, respect, and the complicated but enduring bonds that come with a life fully lived.
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