BUCK, Paul R. 1922-2007

BUCK, COWELL, DELUHERY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/12/2015 at 19:08:46

Paul R. Buck, 85, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Saturday, September 1, 2007, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, September 4, 2007, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center, Iowa, with Father Dennis Quint officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Grundy Center with military honors provided by Grundy Center Post #349 of the American Legion and AMVETS #17. Visitation will be Monday, September 3, 2007, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center with a 6 pm Rosary and a prayer vigil beginning at 8 pm. A memorial fund has been established.

Paul Robert Buck was born February 22, 1922 in Mount Ayr, Iowa, son of William John Buck Jr. and Ruth Irene Cowell Buck. He lived on the family farm until he was 18 and finished high school at Mount Ayr. On April 16, 1940 he joined the U.S. Navy and that was his home for the next 25 years. He was stationed aboard the USS Medussa (a large repair ship) anchored in Pearl Harbor on the day of December 7, 1941. He often said he witnessed the beginning of WWII. His next ship, the Navajo, was hit by a torpedo and sank 45 seconds later. Paul was in the water for 1 ½ hours until being rescued by an accompanying small ship. After the war he was on recruiting duty in Des Moines where he met his wife of 60 years, Marjorie R. Deluhery. Paul and Marjorie were married on October 25, 1947 in Mount Ayr.

Paul retired from the Navy in 1964 then worked for A.W. Thompson Co. of Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin for 20 years, hiring and training livestock mineral dealers.

He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Grundy Center Post #349 of the American Legion, AMVETS #17 serving as past post commander, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church serving as a past president of the Holy Name Society. Paul enjoyed over-wintering in Arizona and stayed busy with volunteer work. While he was in the Navy he was captain of the All Navy Basketball Team. He was an excellent golfer and also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also loved to sit and crack walnuts by the hours.

Surviving is his wife, Marjorie; children, Susan (Dan) Hurlburt of Lincoln, Nebraska, Stephen (Nancy) Buck of Eureka, California, Elizabeth (Ed) Ash of Grundy Center, Mary Buck of Tampa, Florida, and Christopher (Carla) Buck of Grundy Center; and by eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Max, William and Boyd.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)