Jess C Paul 1917-2002

PAUL WHITAKER KEESEE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/10/2009 at 00:47:17

Sioux City Journal
29 March 2002

ONAWA, Iowa -- Jess C. Paul, 84, of Onawa died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Belvidere Cemetery, rural Turin, Iowa, with the Rev. Chuck Layton officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Monona County Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2694 and the U.S. Air Force. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa.

Jess was born Aug. 7, 1917, in Elgin, Neb., the son of J.R. and Lorena (Whitaker) Paul. He was raised in Nebraska and graduated from Neligh (Neb.) High School. On May 28, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he was a B-17 pilot during World War II. He was a first lieutenant and served in Air Offensive Europe, Battle of Western Europe and Battle of Italy, flying 48 missions. He received the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and three Bronze Battle Stars.

He was married Oct. 1, 1945 to Roma Mae Keesee in Hobbs, N.M. Jess farmed with his father and brother in Brunswick, Neb. He later farmed in Missouri Valley, Iowa, until 1960, when the farm was annexed into the development of DeSoto Bend. He operated and owned the Dairy Queen in Onawa from 1960 to 1974. Mrs. Paul passed away Sept. 16, 1992, in Onawa.

He was a member of United Methodist Church in Onawa, American Legion David McNeill Post 129 and a lifetime member of Monona County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2694. He was an avid supporter of Little League baseball and played on the Championship American Legion baseball team in Nebraska.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Georgia and Larry Taylor of Omaha and Sylvia and Garry Ellison of Onawa; a son, Jim of Onawa; grandchildren, John and Adam Taylor, Jeff and his wife, Shari Ellison, and Cindy and her husband, Doug Kuhlmann; great-grandchildren, Brooke and Ben Kuhlmann; a brother, Donald Paul of Atlantic, Iowa; and two sisters, Doris Bergh of Lakewood, Colo., and Gladys and her husband, Bob Roush, of Englewood, Colo.

In addition to his wife, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Lee.