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Paulsen, Donald Arthur
Donald Arthur Paulsen passed away on Sunday, July 15 2012, at Manor Care Nursing Home, Dubuque. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Chapel, Cedar Rapids. Pastor Arnold Flater of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque, will officiate. Visitation and a light luncheon will follow the service and Don will then be buried at the Keystone Cemetery.
Donald was born on a farm near Keystone, Iowa, on March 20, 1923. He attended Big Grove Country School No. 9 and graduated from Keystone High School in 1939. He attended Iowa State University until drafted for service to Camp Hood, Texas. After six months, he was sent to the University of Ohio and then to the University of North Dakota for premedical studies.
In 1945, he married his high school classmate, Ruth Franzenburg at St. John's Lutheran Church in Keystone. In 1949, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. After completing his internship at St. Luke Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved with his family to Augsburg, Germany to serve as a medical officer with the 539th General Dispensary.
In 1952, he returned to general practice in Victor, Iowa, for nine years and then upon completion of an anesthesia residency at the University of Iowa he practiced anesthesia in Cedar Rapids for 25 years.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth; three children, Gretchen (Bill) Enke of Fort Dodge, Greg (Mary Coan) Paulsen of Dubuque and Gordon Paulsen of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Erika (Matt) Klitzke and Kristen (BJ) Green, Elizabeth (Jon) Midgette, Luke Paulsen, Ben (Amanda) Paulsen, Hana Paulsen and Adam Paulsen; and seven great-grandchildren.
He also leaves his sister, Dorothy Drahos; brother, Herman (Ilene) Paulsen Jr.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by daughter, Glenda Paulsen; parents, Herman and Ella Paulsen; sister, Ruby Tefer; and brother, Russell Paulsen.
Memorials may be given to Keystone Cemetery, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.
Published in The Gazette July 17, 2012.
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