Paul R. Pomrehn

Paul R. Pomrehn

Iowa City

Paul R. Pomrehn passed away peacefully at home on September 6, 2025, surrounded by the love of family and friends both near and far. He led a life of academic dedication, commitment to community, and love for his family. He died of complications from the latest of several treatments he had received for multiple myeloma over the past 15 years.

Paul was born the youngest of four children in 1949 to Paul R. Pomrehn, Sr. and Della Luongo Pomrehn. He was affectionately known as Skipper, a nickname chosen by his older brothers and sisters. He was the only sibling that completed both cross-country moves when the family moved from Chicago Heights, IL to Southgate, CA in 1954; and then to Creston, IA in 1965, where Paul graduated from high school.

While a senior at the University of Iowa he met Deb Schoelerman. They both worked at University Hospital School – Paul as an orderly and Deb as a nurse’s aide. As Paul’s night shift was ending and Deb’s morning shift was beginning, Deb’s smile (and candy-striped uniform) caught Paul’s eye. They married in 1972 in Iowa and raised three children – Andrea, Teri and Greg – in community with neighborhood families that became lifelong friendships. Paul became a longtime and deeply involved member of the Unitarian Universalist Society.

Paul received his BS in 1971 and MD in 1975 – both from the University of Iowa. Paul and Deb moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Paul did his internship at Maricopa County Hospital. They then went to Crownpoint, NM, where Paul, as a physician in the Indian Health Service, cared for the people of the Navajo Nation.

They returned to Iowa City in 1978, and after completing an MS degree from the UI Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health (now part of the College of Public Health), Paul joined the faculty. Since then, in addition to teaching and research, he has held numerous academic leadership roles at the U of IA, including a time as the associate dean for student affairs and curriculum in the College of Medicine and various roles supporting the eventual creation of the College of Public Health.

A desire for closer connection to patient care (and all the kids being out of the house) led Paul to seek a second medical residency. He trained at Stanford Medical School from 2001-05, and completed training in adult psychiatry. Andrea was in medical school at the time, and more than one of her classmates would ask her, “Is that your dad doing a residency?” Upon his return to Iowa City, he served as a clinician and medical director of psychiatric services for the Community Mental Health Center of Eastern Iowa, and later as a visiting professor supervising residents in the Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at UI Health Care. Paul was a compassionate medical provider and gifted teacher who was able to care for the whole person. He was unafraid to bridge disciplines and challenge old boundaries in the service of better care and stronger communities. Paul is remembered by a wide circle of friends, colleagues, students and patients whose lives were touched by his care and vision.

Beyond his professional life, he loved sports and throughout his life played basketball, tennis, and golf – a love he freely shared with his children. He also loved playing games and doing puzzles with his friends and family – popular activities at Lake Okoboji. He could be fiercely competitive – not willing to let the grandkids win easily and continuing his scrabble rivalry until the last weeks of his life. He was a longtime fan of Hawkeye sports, especially basketball.

Paul was a beloved son, husband, nephew, brother, uncle, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Deb Schoelerman; children: Andrea Myers (Ward) of Indianapolis, Teresa Birch of Iowa City and Gregory Pomrehn (Charissa) of Seattle; his sister, Gail Greenwald of Northfield, MN, and 5 grandchildren: Clara, Lewis, Noah, Nico, and Pax. He was preceded in death by his parents: Paul and Della Pomrehn; his brother, Hugo; sister Sue, and son-in-law, John Birch.

The family wishes to thank the medical teams at the Mayo Clinic, UIHC, and Mercy Hall-Perrine Cancer Center for their excellent care as well as Iowa City Hospice and Mary McCall for their end-of-life support.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 2355 Oakdale Rd in Coralville, IA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pomrehn-Schoelerman Student Success (scholarship) Fund at University of Iowa Center for Advancement – P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244; to the Unitarian Universalist Society, 2355 Oakdale Rd., Coralville, IA, 52241; or to an organization of your choosing.