Wilson, Esther E. 1921-2007

WILSON, SCHMIDT, PAULSESN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/3/2007 at 18:16:51

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Esther (Paulsen) Wilson, 85, of South Sioux City passed away Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at a South Sioux City care center.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hope Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Randall Knuth officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, at Becker-Hunt Funeral Home.

Esther Elinore Wilson was born Nov. 4, 1921, at Uehling, Neb., to Lorenz and Dorothy (Schmidt) Paulsen. Shortly after she was born, the family moved to Bancroft, Neb. She was confirmed May 26, 1935, in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bancroft. Her father died when she was five.

She was married to Billy L. Wilson on Oct. 16, 1945, in Omaha. The couple then moved to South Sioux City until 1950, when they moved to Sioux City. They returned to South Sioux City in 1976.

Esther graduated from Midland College with a teacher's certificate, bachelor's degree from Morningside College and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. She also attended Omaha University, University of Nebraska, New York University, University of South Dakota, Nebraska University, Wayne State and Kearney State.

Esther taught school for 51 years. She taught at Irvington, Neb.; Immanuel Lutheran School, Wichita, Kan.; Winnebago High School, Winnebago, Neb.; National Business College in Sioux City; Liberty Consolidated Schools, Merrill, Iowa; South Sioux City High School, South Sioux City, as a business teacher and Distributive Education Coordinator for 31 years and Western Iowa Tech, Sioux City.

After retiring as a teacher, Ester became a business entrepreneur, real estate agent, real estate investor and landlord. Before moving to assisted living and then the nursing home, she was an avid gardener. Walking was her favorite exercise. She enjoyed cheering on the Cardinals' girls' basketball team and the Nebraska football team.

She published her own book, "I Said I Would." In addition, she was a contributing author to "Siouxland Anthology, Capturing Our Heritage," and "Mom's Aspiration" in the Lutheran Message. Over the years she had been an active member and/or officer of Federated Woman's Club, Distributive Education Clubs of Nebraska, American Cancer Society of Dakota County, South Sioux City Education Association, South Sioux City Chamberettes, Nebraska Business Education Association, SCORE counselor, Lutheran Service Auxiliary, Friends of the Library, Women Aware, and Senior Soos. She volunteered as a teacher for ESL, GED, and naturalization of SE Asian immigrants.

Her honors and awards include 30 consecutive years of DECA State Winners, DEAN (Marketing Educators) Service Award, Diana award (Distinguished International Academy of Noble Achievement for exceptional service to humanity), All Nebraska Service Award, Writer's Workshop Service Award, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Nebraska, Nebraska Vocational Education award, Who's Who in Secondary Schools, and Woman of the Year from American Business Women's Association.

She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, in South Sioux City, where she had been Sunday school teacher, choir member, treasurer, altar guild and board of evangelism member. Formerly she was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sioux City, where she had also been a choir member, Sunday school teacher and Sunday school superintendent.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Ralph Dellar of Parkridge, Ill.; a brother and sister-in-law, Reinhart and Cornelia Paulsen of O'Fallon, Ill., formerly of Omaha; three nieces, Carol Reinke (Les) Marcia Herrara and Nancy Schmidt (Paul); and two nephews, Larry Wieland (Sue) and Dale Paulsen (Janet).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy on Oct. 31, 2003, in Sioux City; her parents; and a sister, Vernice Wieland.

~source: The Sioux City Journal, Sept. 20, 2007