PAULUS, Joseph Wendell 1930-2010

WIHLM, PAULUS, CRUM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/26/2010 at 21:24:09

Rockford, Iowa - Joseph W. Paulus, 80, of Rockford, died on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 410 Patrick St., Dougherty, with the Rev. James Wm. Dubert as Celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Dougherty where military honors will be provided by the Hogan Brislin American Legion Post No. 354.

Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. today, Sunday, Sept. 26, at St. Patrick's gymnasium where a Scriptural Wake service will be held at 4 p.m. and a Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to Mass on Monday.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Joseph Paulus Memorial Fund.

Joseph Wendell Paulus was born on Sept. 9, 1930, in rural Rockford to Albert and Anna Marie (Crum) Paulus. He received his education and graduated from Rockford High School.

On Nov. 7, 1951, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps where he faithfully and honorably served his country until his honorable discharge on Nov. 1, 1953.

He was united in marriage to Rita Wihlm on July 26, 1958, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Dougherty. To this union eight children were born.

Joseph and Rita spent many years on their farm outside of Marble Rock where he raised dairy cows, beef cattle and hogs. But as busy as the farm kept him, Joseph always made time to spend with his family. On the weekends he would often take the family fishing.

Through the years he was always going to sporting events, first for his own children and then for his grandchildren. He was a true family man and loved spending time together with the whole family, especially for birthdays and holidays. One of his fondest pastimes for over forty years was dressing up as Santa Claus every year and visiting nursing homes and schools, after his marriage to Rita they would work as a team: Santa and Mrs. Claus.

In his later years, Joseph enjoyed auctioneering as well as collecting unique tools and farm equipment. Each year over Labor Day weekend he would set up his table at the seven mile corner with his antiques and tools on display.
He was known as a kind and caring man with a great sense of humor and always had a joke up his sleeve.

Joseph was a member of the American Legion and Holy Name Catholic Church, both of Rockford and served on the RRMR school board for many years.

Those grateful in sharing in his life are his children, Joseph (Sue) Paulus, Bill (Terry) Paulus, Julie (Mike) Lambert, Janet (Tony) Staudt, John (Stephanie) Paulus, Jim (Shannon) Paulus, Rick Paulus, and Ed (Lori) Paulus; grandchildren, Melissa, Jennifer (Jeffrey) Johnson, Mike, and Anna Paulus, Steve and Chelsey Paulus, Austin, Joe, Ashley, and Haley Lambert, Kelly (Daniel) Fox, Kyle, and Eric Staudt, Wyatt Paulus, Allix, Jackie, and Marcus Paulus, Madelyn, Jenna, and Caleb Paulus; special friend Penny Smith; siblings, Alberta (Jerry) Montag, Nick (Mary Jo) Paulus, Sharon Paulus, Mary Paulus and Barb Bass.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rita; two brothers, Paul Paulus, and Lawrence Paulus, in infancy; and two nephews.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, 641-423-2372.
www.colonialchapels.com.

[ Globe Gazette, September 26, 2010 ]