Donald Leroy Paulsen

Donald Leroy Paulsen, the son of Hans Peter and Alma Jensen Paulsen, was born December 9, 1934, at his parents’ home near Brayton, Iowa and died July 23, 2011, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 14 days. Don was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He attended rural school and then attended Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1953. Don was married in 1953 and had two children John David and Karen Marie. Don attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska for one year. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 9, 1954. During his tour of duty he served as a driver for the Chaplain. While driving they would visit orphanages and Don would ask fellow servicemen for funds on payday to help the orphans. Don was honorably discharged on June 16, 1956, and returned to Exira. He then attended Iowa State University graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. During his senior year at ISU he was the chairman of the All AG Banquet and was in charge of procuring a speaker for the banquet. Don persuaded Adolph Rupp, the winning basketball coach from the University of Kentucky to come to Iowa as the speaker. Following graduation Don became a cattle buyer for packing companies which included Wilson and IBP. While working for IBP he became the assistant head cattle buyer in charge of 43 cattle buyers throughout the United States. On December 22, 1978, he married Eileen Lambert at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. Don left IBP in 1979 and returned to operate his farm near Exira. He was caught in the farm crisis and only farmed until 1985. Don then worked on with both the State and Federal levels to try to help the farmers. He entertained both Governor Branstad and Senator Grassley and testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the concentration of the beef industry. Later he worked as a consultant with a Des Moines law firm which had a case against the major meat packing plants for concentration and price fixing of live cattle prices. Don lived on their farm until he moved to the Exira Care Center in March of 2011 due to his failing health. Don was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira and a member of the V.F.W. in Harlan, Iowa. Don was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers and sisters Frances and husband Leland Griffin, Ruth Elaine and husband Robert Baier, Lester and wife Doris Paulsen, LaVern Paulsen; and his sister-in-law Beulah Paulsen. Survivors include his wife Eileen Paulsen of Exira, Iowa; his children John David Paulsen of Seattle, Washington and Karen Marie and husband Simon Mouhanna of Woodinville, Washington; his grandsons Stephen and Nathaniel Mouhanna both of Woodinville; his brother Emmert Paulsen of Exira; his sister-in-law Jane Paulsen of Omaha, Nebraska; his brother-in-law Dennis and wife Kim Lambert of Carroll, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment of the cremains will be in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira, Iowa

Service:
The Celebration of Life Memorial Graveside Service will be conducted by Vicar Rory Phillips on Thursday, July 28, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. at St. John\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira, Iowa.