Emmert Enevold Paulsen

1919 - 2017

Funeral services for Emmert E. Paulsen, 97, were conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. Interment was in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. The casket bearers were Clark Nelson, Brian Nelson, Josh Paulsen, Brian Juhl, Matt Jorgensen, and Jason Schwenke. The Kessler Funeral Home in Exira was in charge of the arrangements.
Emmert Enevold Paulsen, the son of Hans Peter and Alma (Jensen) Paulsen, was born Dec. 25, 1919, at his parents' home in Sharon Township, Audubon County, and died Feb. 10, 2017, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, at the age 97 years, 1 month, and 15 days.
Emmert was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He attended rural schools then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1939. He then helped operate the family farm.
On Dec. 27, 1940, he was united in marriage to Beulah Schwab at the Exira Lutheran Church Parsonage. They were blessed with four children Charles, Alice Jean, Howard, and Paul. They farmed east of Brayton, for a short time, then moved to their farm east of Exira. They grew row crops and raised livestock, especially cattle. They operated the farm then moved into Exira in 1980. Beulah suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and stayed at the Care Center for 3 years. They built their home in Exira for her comfort and ease of care. Emmert moved Beulah from the Care Center to their new home in the summer of 1980 where he continued her care until she died Nov. 28, 1989 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Emmert continued to reside in their home until he moved to the Exira Care Center on August 28, 2014.
Emmert was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Atlantic, and had served on the Board of the Exira Care Center for many years. Emmert met LaVonne Klinkefus and the two had a long companionship that included their love of dancing. Emmert loved farming especially raising cattle. He enjoyed his trips on the T-Bone train to Chicago, Ill., and then later also traveled to other cattle markets when the train stopped going to Chicago.
Emmert was preceded in death, in addition to his wife Beulah; by his daughter Alice Jean and her husband Roland Nelson; his son Paul Paulsen; his grandson Jarrod Paulsen; his parents; his brothers and sisters: Frances and husband Leland Griffin, Lester and wife Doris Paulsen, LaVern Paulsen, Ruth Elaine and husband Robert Baier, Don Paulsen; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Floyd and wife Mildred Schwab, Florence and husband Emmert Lauridsen, Lois and husband Merne Riesgaard, Doris and husband Marvin "Toot" Schlater, and Marvin "Jack" and Phyllis Schwab.
Survivors include his children Charles and wife Marjorie Paulsen of Exira, and Howard and wife Cindy Paulsen of Brayton; his daughter-in-law Donna Paulsen of West Des Moines; 18 grandchildren, 42 great- grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren; his sisters-in-law Ruby Jane Paulsen of Omaha, Neb., and Eileen Paulsen of Carroll; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.