Paulsen, Herman (Herb) Allen

Herman (Herb) Allen Paulsen of Coralville, and formerly of Keystone, passed away at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center Nov. 23, 2013.

Herman was born on the family farm outside of Keystone, Iowa, July 17, 1929, the son of Herman and Ella (Tecklenburg) Paulsen. He attended country school and graduated from Keystone High School in 1947.

On Nov. 14, 1950, he married Ilene Pickart at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton. He served in the Marine Corps from January 1951 until December 1952. He returned to the family farm where he and Ilene began raising their family. He took an active role in the NFO organization in the 1960s. He was a member of the Merkel-Bockholt Legion in Keystone. Herb worked at Link-Belt Speeder in Cedar Rapids for five years. After 40 years of farming, he retired in 1993 and then worked for the Von Maur department store at Westdale Mall in their custodial department for seven years. He volunteered at the VA hospital in Iowa City for 19 years. Herman's hearing loss didn't prevent him from enjoying political discussions, the Hawkeyes or his hobby of baking bread. When volunteering at the VA he wore a self-made button that said “Just deaf, not dumb!” In 2011, he and Ilene moved from the farm to Coralville.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Ilene; his children, Mark (Virginia), Elizabethtown, Ky., Laurie (Tom Roper), Minneapolis, Minn., Melinda, Iowa City, Iowa, Beth Scott, Altoona, Iowa, Jay (Lori), Iowa City, Iowa, Ellen (Tim) Vawter, Des Moines, Iowa; and his sister, Dorothy Drahos, Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Survivors also include five grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and six step-great-grandchildren.

Herman was preceded in death by his brothers, Russell and Dr. Donald Paulsen; and his sister, Ruby Tefer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Van Horne with Father Jim Miller as Celebrant. Friends may register at the church after 9 a.m. Interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery. A rosary will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone where visitation will continue until 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Keystone Legion or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Van Horne.

Condolences may be left at .

Published Nov. 25, 2013, in The Gazette