LUNDBERG, Paul D. (1934-2022)

LUNDBERG

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/1/2022 at 17:31:13

Paul Dean Lundberg
(December 31, 1934 - May 5, 2022)

Services for Paul Dean Lundberg, 87, who passed away Thursday, May 5, 2022, at The Village in Indianola, will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at the Milo United Methodist Church. Cremation will follow services.
Paul was born on December 31, 1934, to Lawrence and Frances (Stewart) Lundberg at their home near Conrad, Iowa. He was the oldest of seven children. Paul attended several county schools and graduated from Green Mountain High School in 1952. He attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa for one year before being inducted into the Army in November 1954.
On December 21, 1955, he married Karen Jo Phelps of Marshalltown. Following their marriage, Paul was stationed in Kentucky during his remaining service in the Army and was honorably discharged in November 1956 and served in the reserves until 1962. Paul finished his education following his service and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College, now known as University of Northern Iowa, in Waterloo, with a degree major in music and a minor in biology. Paul started his teaching career in Hartley, Iowa, then moved to Dysart, Iowa and eventually moved to the Milo area and taught elementary and junior high vocal music for the Southeast Warren Community School District for sixteen years. Paul’s junior high choirs were often invited to perform as exhibition for the on-air Bill Riley Show in the 1960s and 1970s.
Paul and Karen had two children, Steven Paul Lundberg and Rebecca (Becky) Jo Lundberg. Their family took a camping vacation virtually every summer, seeing many parts of the United States. Steve and Becky got quite accustomed to setting out on their journeys at wee hours of the morning and considered a tent their second home. One of the most memorable trips they took was in 1972 when they drove to Alaska and drove the “Golden Circle” and spent nearly two months on the road. Some of those vacations were taken with close family friends. Karen passed away in June 1975.
In the summer of 1975, with the assistance of the Iowa DNR and in association with a neighboring property owner, a 7.5 acre pond was built on Paul’s land near Liberty Center where Paul and his second wife Carolyn spent countless hours enjoying the fresh air and fishing. Paul was often seen in his boat out on the water fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish and it was not uncommon for Paul to have a stringer full.
On December 18, 1976, Paul married Carolyn Arnold Wickett of Milo. After Paul left the teaching profession, Paul and Carolyn opened a grocery store in Milo – Lundberg Grocery – that they operated for thirteen years. Paul then sold personal accident insurance for Combined Insurance for fifteen years before completely retiring in 2010. He and Carolyn also enjoyed many travels pulling their pop-up camper.
Paul was well known in the Milo community aside from being a teacher. He served as a Boy Scout Master for thirteen years. He was a 50+ year member of the Milo and Indianola Masonic Lodge and was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Patron of both the Bethel Chapter in Milo and then the Indianola Chapter.
In his retirement years, Paul had two great passions in life – the first one being his gardening. For many springs, Paul would start the spring tapping maple trees in Milo to gather the sap to make homemade maple syrup. His hobby was featured in the Indianola Record Herald and there were occasions where he would educate students on how the syrup was made. He had multiple garden plots in Milo and grew vegetables that he then sold at the Warren County Farmers Market in Indianola, an activity that he shared with Carolyn who would make pies to sell. He was known for his radishes, black walnuts, green onions, lettuce, homemade salsa and, of course, his homemade maple syrup. He also had many flower beds that he tended on his home property.
Paul’s true life passion was music, all kinds of music, but the music that gave him the most joy was 4-part harmony barbershop music. In his early music days, Paul started a new chorus in Sheldon, Iowa. He was a member of the Pride of Iowa Barbershop Chorus for twenty-two years. Paul also organized a gospel quartet in Milo and they called themselves “The Bandstand Four.” For over eleven years, they were invited to perform at numerous special meetings, churches, and nursing homes but their highest honor was when they won 1st place at the “Older Iowans Contest” at the Iowa State Fair. He enjoyed attending multiple concerts and activities as his grandchildren grew up. Paul truly loved music and the joy it brought to his life.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Frances Lundberg, sister Judy Zeisneiss, brothers David and Bruce, and first wife Karen. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Lundberg; son, Steve Lundberg; daughter, Becky Lundberg King; stepchildren, Kevin (Linda) Wickett, Kathy (Rusty) Long and Kristy Wickett Wilson; brothers, Jay, Lynn (Alice), and Hu; seven grandchildren, four step grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, seven step great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Milo United Methodist Church. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/