Robert Pauls

Robert Luellen Pauls
Robert "Bob" Pauls, a long time resident of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 82 years.
Robert Luellen Pauls was born on July 11, 1930 in Ogden, Iowa. He was the only child of Jerry Detlaf Pauls and (Lois) Mildred Luellen Pauls. He was confirmed on March 25, 1945, in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ogden, Iowa. His confirmation verse was Rev. 2:10 “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”.
During his teenage years, Robert was an active participant in Boy Scouts and an outstanding trumpet player. Upon his graduation from Ogden High School, Robert joined the Iowa National Guard, and became a student at UNI, known then as “Iowa State Teachers' College.” He graduated from college with an education degree and and accepted a Drivers' Ed. teaching position at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The local teachers in Council Bluffs often got together for fun activities, and it was at one of these gatherings that Robert, “Bob” to his friends, met his future wife, (Carolyn) Joan Reece. Bob and Joan were married on July 6, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Coin, Iowa. Council Bluffs remained their home for several more years and two of their four daughters, Lois and Carolyn, were born there.
In the summer of 1964, Bob was hired by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the family moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where Laurel and Nancy were eventually born. This job required Bob to work at an office in Des Moines, but he also spent much of his time traveling around southern Iowa giving Safety Education Presentations in various communities. Bob's employment with Iowa's DOT continued until he retired; the positions he held included Driver's License Hearing Officer and Relocation Specialist. Bob continued his enlistment with Iowa National Guard for many years, as well. He attended Guard Drill for two weekends of each month in either Atlantic, Council Bluffs or Des Moines. For two weeks each summer during every year of his military career, Bob attended training camps in Missouri, Wisconsin or Minnesota. After 36 years with the Iowa Army National Guard, he retired with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Bob's trumpet playing talent allowed him to play Taps for countless military funerals and Memorial Day remembrance celebrations during his teenage and adult life. A skilled handyman, Bob remodeled several rooms in the family home and even built a flat-bottomed canoe which was used for many years. Bob enjoyed many activities and belonged to several organizations including Optimists, Toastmasters, Nishna Valley Woodcarvers, Friday Night Bowling league, Jackson Elementary School PTA, Atlantic Police Reserves, Cass County Storm Chasers, American Legion, Atlantic Kiwanis Club and Allen House Kiwanis Aktion Club. Bob was also a graduate of both the Dale Carnegie course and the Bob Ross painting academy. He studied to become a certified locksmith and had his own business, “Bob's Lock and Key.”
Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed camping and fishing with his parents, with his wife and daughters, and later with his grandchildren. Bob and Joan often visited their grandchildren in Chariton, Iowa and San Antonio, Texas. After Joan retired from her job, the couple did more traveling around the United States and even took a trip to Canada. When Joan was diagnosed with cancer, Bob was her dedicated caretaker. He faithfully took his wife to the out-of-town 6 am dialysis appointments three times a week. After Joan passed away in 2002, Bob continued to live in the family home for a few more years until his own health began to decline. He moved to Allen House in Atlantic and spent the last months of his life at Wesley Acres in Des Moines.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Pauls, in 2002. Bob leaves behind four children, Lois (Don) Dixon of Chariton, Carolyn (Mike) Lehnus of Urbandale, Laurel (Greg) Smith of Adkins, Texas, and Nancy (Brad) Toberman of Baraboo, Wisconsin, eleven grandchildren: Andrew Jessen, Mary (Andrew) Goben, Thomas Jessen, Peter Jessen, James Smith, Noah Smith, Hannah Smith, Bethany Smith, Luke Smith, Josephine Toberman and Teddy Toberman; and five great-grandchildren: Benton, Ava, Lucas, Maddi and Michael.
` There will be a funeral held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, October 30 at First United Methodist Church in Atlantic with Pastor Lanette Plambeck officiating. Family will meet with friends from 5 to 7pm on Monday, October 29 at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Open visitation will be available from 8 to 5 on Monday, also at Rolands.
Roland Funeral Service of Atlantic, Iowa is caring for Bob’s family and the arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left in his guest book on the funeral home website at www.rolandfuneralservice.com