Paula Gene (Salmon) Hollinger 1975 - 2016

SALMON, HOLLINGER, HARBECK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/25/2016 at 14:32:55

Sioux City Journal
14 July 2016

SIOUX CITY | Paula Gene (Salmon) Hollinger, 40, of Sioux City passed away Monday, July 11, 2016, at her home, surrounded by her family, after a long courageous fight with cancer. Paula was diagnosed on Sept. 26, 2011, with stage four ovarian cancer. After six different chemo treatments she lost her battle but never, ever gave up the fight.

Memorial services will be 7 p.m. Friday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Michael Kumm will officiate. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Paula was born on Dec. 18, 1975, in Escondido, Calif., the daughter of Gene and Kathy (Harbeck) Salmon. Paula lived in Tyler, Minn., from 1979 to November 1982, moving to San Diego, Calif., in 1982 until 1986. She moved to Sioux City in March 1986 and attended Smith Elementary School, Holy Cross Epiphany and then graduated from Heelan High School in 1994.

Paula held several jobs including Shop-Ko and MCI. Paula moved to George, Iowa, in 2002 and started working at VandeBerg Scales in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Paula and Joe dated in 1994 for a short time, reunited in October 2010 and were married on June 29, 2013, in Sioux City. Joe was her first and only one true love.

Paula loved to gamble, gamble and gamble some more. She and her husband, Joe, were well known at WinnaVegas. She also loved playing a card game called Kat-A-Buck with mom, dad and Joe and going to Council Bluffs, Iowa, for cards with friends at the Eagles. Paula enjoyed a good game of Bocci and would challenge anyone at any time. Her favorite TV shows were Dancing With The Stars, Survivor and all Lifetime movies.

Paula had many animal friends from her enchanted forest, especially the stray cats and she would name each one and the babies. She would love to relax reading a good book, historical romance and suspense novels. Her favorite word was Believe and her favorite quote was "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."

Paula is survived by her husband, Joe; their son, Brady Salmon; her son, Charles Swearengin; stepson, Jerod Hollinger; her parents, Gene and Kathy Salmon, all of Sioux City; two brothers, Tony Salmon (Allison) of Sioux City, and Mike Salmon of Des Moines; maternal grandfather, Don Harbeck of Sioux City; sister-in-law, Tammy Hollinger; brother-in-law, Darwyn Hollinger (Sarah) of Sioux City; nieces and nephews, Maisey Salmon, Kelani Salmon, Kyson Salmon, Theresa and Adam Deming, and Erick, Morgen and Ethan Hollinger; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Paula was preceded in death by her grandparents, Larry and Jo Salmon, and Gerry Harbeck.