John Paulsen
February 14, 1932 — June 22, 2022
John Charles Paulsen was born February 14, 1932 to Russell and Fern (Ruhs) Paulsen in Harlan, Iowa. He attended school in Irwin and after graduation, attended The University of Nebraska at Omaha while also working at Union Pacific Railroad. He was called to serve his country in the Army from 1952 until 1954 and
eventually returned to Irwin to become the fourth generation proprietor of Paulsen’s Store. John mentored many young people by hiring them to work at the store.
John married Margit Madsen and together they had three children: Lisa, Andrea, and Joel. John enjoyed attending his children’s school events and later the high school and college activities of his grandchildren. He spent countless hours in gyms, stadiums, and auditoriums around southwest Iowa. He was an avid sports fan and rarely missed a football game in Irwin. He also followed the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Chiefs. John also enjoyed horse racing and spent many afternoons with friends at the AkSarBen Racetrack. He loved a wide variety of musical genres, especially jazz and blues, and traveled to numerous jazz festivals. He also enjoyed attending other concerts, including the Rolling Stones at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
John was interested in physical fitness and began running before running became “cool.” He could often be seen running around the Irwin Football Field. He ran in marathons (usually winning his age
group) and helped organize several of them that were held during the Lake View Water Carnivals. He also liked to walk, swim and bike.
After retiring from Paulsen’s Store, John moved to the family cabin in Lake View. At this time he finished his college degree at Buena Vista University and began working at Jacobsen Seed Company in Lake View. He also met Rose Kruse, his longtime companion, and they traveled together, making many trips to Germany and other European countries.
John lived in Lake View until 2017 when health concerns necessitated a move to Carroll, Iowa. It was there that he passed away on June 22, 2022. John is survived by his children Lisa and husband Dave Putnam, Andrea and husband Allan Olson, Joel and wife Corina Paulsen, his eight grandchildren Lindsay, Leslie,
Zachary, Tyler, Leah, Brian, Thomas, and Emma and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by longtime companion Rose Kruse of Carroll, lifelong friend Pudge McMahon of Irwin, favorite cousin, Dixie Thompson of Elk Horn, and many other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to the Lake View American Legion.
eventually returned to Irwin to become the fourth generation proprietor of Paulsen’s Store. John mentored many young people by hiring them to work at the store.
John married Margit Madsen and together they had three children: Lisa, Andrea, and Joel. John enjoyed attending his children’s school events and later the high school and college activities of his grandchildren. He spent countless hours in gyms, stadiums, and auditoriums around southwest Iowa. He was an avid sports fan and rarely missed a football game in Irwin. He also followed the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Chiefs. John also enjoyed horse racing and spent many afternoons with friends at the AkSarBen Racetrack. He loved a wide variety of musical genres, especially jazz and blues, and traveled to numerous jazz festivals. He also enjoyed attending other concerts, including the Rolling Stones at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
John was interested in physical fitness and began running before running became “cool.” He could often be seen running around the Irwin Football Field. He ran in marathons (usually winning his age
group) and helped organize several of them that were held during the Lake View Water Carnivals. He also liked to walk, swim and bike.
After retiring from Paulsen’s Store, John moved to the family cabin in Lake View. At this time he finished his college degree at Buena Vista University and began working at Jacobsen Seed Company in Lake View. He also met Rose Kruse, his longtime companion, and they traveled together, making many trips to Germany and other European countries.
John lived in Lake View until 2017 when health concerns necessitated a move to Carroll, Iowa. It was there that he passed away on June 22, 2022. John is survived by his children Lisa and husband Dave Putnam, Andrea and husband Allan Olson, Joel and wife Corina Paulsen, his eight grandchildren Lindsay, Leslie,
Zachary, Tyler, Leah, Brian, Thomas, and Emma and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by longtime companion Rose Kruse of Carroll, lifelong friend Pudge McMahon of Irwin, favorite cousin, Dixie Thompson of Elk Horn, and many other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to the Lake View American Legion.
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