John Paulsen

Funeral Services for John Paulsen will be held on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Nora Mendyk officiating.  Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege following the service, with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

John Paulsen, Jr., 92 years of age, of Holdrege (formerly of Funk, Nebraska) passed away on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  John was born June 14, 1926 on a farm ten miles southwest of Bertrand, in Gosper County, Nebraska, the seventh of eight children born to John and Mabel (Sandin) Paulsen.  He attended rural school at District #65 in Gosper County, and then attended high school at Mascot, graduating from Mascot High School with the class of 1943.

Following his education, John was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps on March 8, 1945.  He served his country during World War II, until his honorable discharge on October 13, 1946.

On June 2, 1948, he was united in marriage to Edna Louise Larson of rural Elm Creek, Nebraska, and to this union three children were born: Gwen Yvonne, Cristy Kay, and James Thad.  In 1949, they started farming south of Elm Creek until 1951, when they settled on a farm north of Funk, where he continued to be engaged in farming until his retirement in 2002.  In 2011, John and Edna moved into Holdrege.  On April 24, 2012, John was preceded in death by his wife, Edna.

He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, where he served on the church board, including chairman of the trustees committee for several years.  John and Edna loved to travel, especially spending the winters in Sun Lakes, Arizona since 1979.  While in Arizona, they enjoyed attending church at the Community Church.

John was an avid billiards player, and enjoyed playing pool at the Phelps County Senior Center with his many friends.  These good friends were a great support system to John after the loss of Edna.

Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two great-grandchildren who were born at rest; three brothers: Albert Paulson and his wife, Alberta; Roy Paulson and his wife, Myrtle; Herbert Paulson and his wife, Helen; four sisters: Myrtle Clayton and her husband, Thomas; Ruth Nelson and her husband, Densmore; Irene Griffith and her husband, Claude; and Louise Paulsen; brothers-in-law:  Harold Larson and his wife, Elvera; and Carl Larson; sisters-in-law: Verna Palmer and her husband, Raymond; Ruth Anderson and her husband, Elmer O. Anderson; and Lila Else.

John leaves to celebrate his life; his three children: Gwen Needham and her husband, Dale of Campbell, Nebraska; Cristy Christensen and her husband, Eldon of Stapleton, Nebraska; and James Paulsen and his wife, Mary of Funk; 11 grandchildren: Gary Needham and his wife, Angela; Duane Needham and his wife, Angelika; Robert Needham and his wife, Joan; Mark Needham and his wife, Susie; Marcia Kriz and her husband, Lt. Col. Patrick Kriz; Lynette Karg and her husband, James; James Christensen; John Christensen and his wife, Bobbie; Shelly Gifford and her husband, Tom; Leslie Gerdes and her husband, Jason; and Stephanie Todd and her husband, Damien; 31 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in John's honor, and kindly suggested to the First United Methodist Church; the Phelps County Senior Center, or to the donor's choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.