Kelly's parents are Stan and Chris Yetzer of Waconia.  She has an older brother Steve and two older sisters Dawn and Jill.  The family business is called Yetzer's Home Furnishings in Waconia and Jill owns Clearwater Clothing in Waconia.  Kelly's mother was a lab tech at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia. 
Kelly attended St. Joseph's Catholic School in Waconia and graduated from Waconia High School in 1992.  She graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1996 with a degree in Elementary Education and received her Master's Degree in Special Education. 
And then …
"I was finishing up my first year of law school and Kelly decided she couldn't live without me," said Paul, "and I couldn't live without her."
They were married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Waconia on August 7^th, 1998.  They lived in St. Paul for a short time while Paul was still in school and moved to Victoria in April of 2000.
Why Victoria?  "We found a house that we liked and we wanted to be close to Kelly's family in Waconia," said Paul.
Today Kelly is a stay-at-home mom with their son Stanley, 5, and daughter Caroline, 3.  Paul is able to be home at night with his wife and kids most of the time, but not always in time for supper.  Two jobs pull him away. 

He is known by the public because of his government job.  In 2002 Paul was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 34A.  This District includes the cities of Victoria, a small part of Chaska, Waconia, Watertown, Norwood Young America, Hamburg, New Germany, Cologne, Carver, Mayer, plus  all of the townships in Carver County and three townships in northern Scott County.
Paul was re-elected in 2004 and is running for re-election this fall of 2006.
"I enjoy it," he said.  "I enjoy work-ing for the good of people.  It sounds trite, but that's certainly the biggest part of it.  I do believe the work the Legislature does is important.  I think I have developed some skills to be a good advocate for the people."
The Legislature is in session for a total of eight or nine months in a two-year period.  During those months he puts in anywhere from 40 to 80 hours per week in the role of a Legislator. 
"That includes community things like attending events in the cities I represent," explained Paul.  "My kids associate church on Sundays with going to pancake breakfasts.  That's not a bad thing.  It's just the way it is."
Politics has always been Paul's interest.  "I find it challenging, exciting, frustrating … Pick any adjective!" he stated.  "The State has come out of a terrible financial situation and now we can look forward.  I'm part of the 2020 Caucus, which is a group of us looking at demographics."
"I believe Minnesota was overtaxed and over regulated," continued the enthused politician.  "I want more people to be able to raise a family, own a home, to start and grow businesses.  The course can be changed.  The ship's going to run, but it doesn't turn on a dime."
The metaphor was appropriate, of course.  An aircraft carrier doesn't turn on a dime either.  It actually turns on millions and billions of dollars, just like State Government.
"My other job is with Alianz Life," said Paul.  "It's an insurance company in Golden Valley.  Ironically, or maybe not, my work for the company involves government affairs.  I work with national trade organizations and do some work in other states including New York, New Jersey, and Utah.
"It's not an insurance agency," Paul explained.  "Allianz manufactures insurance products to agencies that sell them."

As Paul clicked away on his laptop at their kitchen table one fine evening last week in their beautiful home in the neighborhood of Allegheny Grove, his daughter Caroline sat between his arms and tenderly stroked her daddy's face.  Paul returned the affection, while trying at the same time to open his picture attach-ments and accommodate this editor. 
He had just arrived home from work ten minutes earlier, greeted his family, and then shoved supper into his face.  Son Stanley had responded to the doorbell with the manners of a young gentleman:  "Please come in, Mrs. Orsen."  Stanley has the kind and transparent eyes of his dad. 
Kelly's focus remained with the children.  It was bedtime.  Caroline, who has the striking brown eyes of her mother, did not want to get off her dad's lap and she cried as she was carried off to bed.
"Kelly is a saint," said husband Paul.  The unspoken language between the couple was warm and very alive.  They are adept at accommodating, working, and caring.
Thank you, Paul Kohls, for the story of your day on the high seas.  Thank you, Kelly Kohls, for sharing your fine husband with the people of Victoria and other neighborhoods and cities.  Thank you, Stanley and Caroline, for sharing your daddy with the Victoria Gazette.