Verda Paulsen

Verda "Bert" Mae Haszard was born July 13, 1932, in Persia, Iowa, the daughter of Merlyn Leroy and Esther Mae (Rosenbeck) Haszard and passed away Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Colonial Manor in Anita, Iowa.

Bert was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Anita. She graduated from the Anita High School. On November 5, 1949, she was united in marriage with Norman Paulsen in Hiawatha, Kansas.

She was employed as a desk clerk at the Holiday Inn in Des Moines, but her most important job was caring for her family. Bert loved cooking, baking, canning and vegetable gardening. She especially loved her strawberry bed. Bert always had a meal ready when Norman returned from work. She loved to dance. She and Norman took dance lessons at the Arthur Murray School of Dance. They spent many evenings in Brayton at dances.

Bert was preceded in death by her parents, Merlyn and Esther Haszard and her granddaughter, Jamie Nichol Paulsen.

Her memory will be cherished by her husband, Norman Paulsen of Brayton, Iowa; her children, Steven (Sandi) Paulsen of Anita, Debbie (Bob) Davis of Ankeny, Iowa, Pam (Don) Routh of Norwalk, Iowa, Laurie (Jeff) Morrissey of Norwalk, Iowa, Gary Paulsen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mike Paulsen and his dog, Norman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Leroy "Monty" Paulsen of Brayton, Iowa; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. with visitation two hours prior to the service at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.