PAULUS, Thomas Francis 1918-2002

CASPERSEN, PAULUS

Posted By: Co. Coordinator
Date: 9/14/2002 at 03:50:23

Thomas Francis Paulus, 82, of 1447 North Hampshire Place, died Saturday, (Feb. 9, 2002) at the Heritage Care Center in Mason City.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams, with the Rev. Dennis Cahill officiating. Interment will follow at Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 4 until 7 p.m. at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd Street N.E., where a Scriptural Prayer Service will also be held at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or Holy Family Catholic Church.

Tom was born August 25, 1918, in rural Nora Springs, the son of William and Alma (Caspersen) Paulus. He grew up around Rockford and entered the United States Army in April 1942. Tom operated a bulldozer during World War II under most difficult conditions, building roads under gunfire at all times. He always said prayer was the only thing that saved his life then and got him home safely. Stationed in New Guinea and the Luzon Conflict, he received the Philippines Liberations Ribbon with a Star, the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Service Arrowhead. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.

Tom was united in marriage to Mary Wihlm on April 15, 1947, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Dougherty by Father Paul McGuire. He farmed for 19 years around Dougherty before moving to a farm north of Mason City in February 1967. Put him in a tractor with his wife in a tractor beside him and he was a very happy man. Tom retired from farming in 1988. It was the only job or hobby he ever had.

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church for more than 44 years and also was a member of the Mason City VFW Post #733. Tom was a very devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His great joy was when all of his family came home to celebrate together.

Survivors include his devoted wife of 54 years, Mary, of Mason City; one son, Charles Paulus and his wife, Cindy, of Mason City; two daughters, Charlotte Andreasen and her husband, Doug, of Indianola, and Mary Claire Rasmus and her husband, Glenn, of Klemme; eight grandchildren, Christa Hoppman, Cyndi Paulus, Katie Paulus, Heather Hulen, Hailey Fehl, Angie Greiman, and Ryan and Marcus Rasmus; three step-grandchildren, Rhondele Krause, Kyle and Keaton Edwards, and seven great-grandchildren; Caroline and Nathan Hoppman, Darby, Jeff, and Cole Hulen, Dillon Franzen and Grace Greiman. He is also survived by one sister, Donna Koebrick and her husband, Wes, of Charles City; four brothers and their wives, Arlyn and Dorothy Paulus and Dale and Maxine Paulus, all of Sedro Woolley, Wash., Dan and Lila Paulus of Renton, Wash. and Calvin and Donna Paulus of Yakima, Wash., one sister-in-law, Lola Paulus of Charles City, one aunt, Marie Gross of Deham Springs, La., and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Bob Paulus, and two sisters and their husbands, Marjorie and Berl Patton and Ruth and Harold Weaver.

The Paulus Family would like to thank the staffs of the Heritage Care Center and Hospice of North Iowa for their excellent care of Tom.

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, (641) 423-2372.