Peter PALS, Jr.

PALS, BOS, SHAHAN, KRUSE, NELSON, FROHLING, TINKEY, OSTENDORF, HERTEL, KRIVACHEK, ROSENDAHL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:42

15 April 1917 ---- 5 April 2008

Peter Pals, Jr., 90, of Belmond, died on Saturday April 5, 2008, at the Belmond Medical Center. Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 10, at the Dugger Funeral Home in Belmond, with Pastor Paddy Druhl officiating. Burial with military rites was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Peter was born at Alexander on April 15, 1917. He was the eighth child of Peter and Katherine (Bos) Pals and was the last surviving member of his family. As a child Peter lived briefly with his family in Port Arthur, Texas. After five years the family returned to Alexander where Peter attended school.

Peter served in the Civilian Conservation Corp and helped with the development of Beed's Lake at Hampton. Later he joined the Army Air Force and served in the Special Services Division in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

On November 30, 1942, Peter married Lola Shahan in Baltimore. After spending some time together in Baltimore, Lola returned to Belmond and Peter shipped out to Europe. On May 26, 1944, while Peter was stationed in Ireland, Lola died at the Hampton hospital of complications from the birth of daughter, Mary Katherine. Three months later Peter received the news that his father had died.

Peter attained the rank of sergeant, was honorably discharged after the war, and returned to the Belmond area where he worked for Charles Showalter and Harold Thompson. On August 8, 1947, he married Darline Kruse of Belmond, and the couple began farming the Kruse farm at Hickory Grove northwest of Belmond. After Darline's death in March 1977, Peter continued farming at Hickory Grove and lived there for several years after retirement.

On November 14, 1997 Peter married Gladys Shahan, and they resided in Belmond.

Besides farming, Peter enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, visiting and cooking. At one time he was pleased to have been selected as "Cook of the Week," a weekly feature in the Belmond Independent.

The farm was the focal point for many social gatherings. Peter had a host of friends, and he always had time for a visit with family, neighbors and the men who came to hunt in Hickory Grove. The coffee was always on, and there was always room for one more around his kitchen table. Peter enjoyed telling about his experiences as a boy in Port Arthur, his experiences as a soldier, and the early history of Hickory Grove. Peter was especially proud of the fact that he had met many dignitaries, including Franklin Roosevelt, had shaken hands with Winston Churchill on three occasions, and was one of the personal drivers for Jimmy Doolittle.

Peter was preceded in death by granddaughter, Shea Ranae Nelson; great-grandson, Jonathan Craig Nelson; wives, Lola and Darline; his parents; brothers, Hans, Hilko, Herman and Joe Pals; sisters, Kate (Menno) Frohling, Grace (Will) Tinkey and Henrietta (Frank) Ostendorf Hertel; and step-son, Charles Krivachek.

Survivors include his wife, Gladys; daughter, Mary K. Nelson; granddaughters, Ann (Patrik) Nelson and Amber (Trent) Rosendahl, all of Belmond; great-grandchildren, Bridgette, Elisabeth and Zachariah Nelson and Benjamin, Alexandria and James Rosendahl; step-children, Ronald (Linda) Shahan, Kathlyn Shahan and Edwin Ray (Nancy) Shahan.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
April 2008