Paul A. Bell

Iowa State Representative Paul A. Bell, 59, passed away Monday, June 7, 2010 at Hospice of Jasper County's Monarch Wing in Newton.
Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, June 11, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, 210 N. 2nd Ave. E. in Newton., with Rev. Howard Vrankin of the First Lutheran Church in Newton officiating.
The family will greet friends from 4:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home, 1115 E. 19th St. N. in Newton. Burial to follow at the Newton Union Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to Hospice of Jasper County or to the Iowa Health Foundation for Paul A. Bell Memorial.
He is survived by his wife, Niki of Newton; daughter, Allison Delagardelle of Newton; son, Brad (Laura) Bell of Phoenix, Arizona; grandson, Dylan Delagardelle of Newton; two sisters, Darlene M. Bollinger of Fenton, Ruth E. (Bill) Elbert of Ankeny; father-in-law, Elead Wegner of Algona; brother-in-law, Lamont M. (Dorothy) Wegner of Algona; sister-in-law, Rhonda K. Johnson of Algona, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Christopher Paul Bell; mother-in-law, Esther Wegner.
Paul was a graduate of Algona High School in 1968. He received his BA from the University of Northern Iowa.
Paul was the Iowa State Representative from the 41st District. He had served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 1993. Paul currently was serving on several committees in the Iowa House - the Ethics committee; the Public Safety committee; the Transportation committee; the Veterans Affairs committee; and the Natural Resources committee, where he was the chair. He was also serving on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. He didn't miss a day of the last legislative session, during which he was having chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Paul had also served on the Newton Police Department from October 21, 1974 to December 31, 2005. Paul was the first D.A.R.E. officer in the State of Iowa. He had D.A.R.E. programs in Newton, Colfax-Mingo land Lynnville-Sully. He was the Charter President of Iowa D.A.R.E. Association. Paul was the Vice President of Illinois D.A.R.E., He was the Community Service Officer for 8 years. He did collective bargaining for the police department. He also started Neighborhood Watch in Newton.
Paul was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Newton; he served on the RSVP Board of Directors where he was a past President, he served on the YMCA Board of Directors and was a past President, he was a Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commissioner, member of Morning Kiwanis, B. C. Berg PTA, was involved with Special Olympics, served on the Salvation Army Board, and the League of Women Voters, Cub Scout Council, Newton Little League, Red Ribbon Campaign and the Jaycees.
Paul enjoyed being with his family, his morning coffee group at Hy-Vee, his fishing buddies, Wednesday Poker Night, Afternoon Card Group, gardening, Prairie Meadows, the Capital Lunch Crowd, the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and the New York Yankees
Paul was born October 3, 1950 in Algona, Iowa to parents, Alfred O. and LuEllena M. (Bierstedt) Bell.
Paul has lived in Newton since 1973.
He married Niki S. Wegner, August 28, 1971 in Algona, Iowa.