With deep sadness the family of Paul L. Sloan, announce his passing on February 4, 2021, at Kavanagh house in Des Moines, IA, as a result of congestive heart failure.

Paul was born in 1927 to Wilbur and Hazel Sloan. He grew up in Sioux City and Des Moines, graduating from East High School in 1946. Paul was an outstanding high school athlete, being recognized as a two-year track and cross-country champion. He was also selected to the Des Moines All City Basketball Team in 1945, playing point guard. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan following World War II. He was on the All-Pacific Track Team while there and was given the opportunity to try out for the mile run for the l948 Olympics. Upon his return home he married Jerri Harrison, and had two children, Paul and Mary.

Paul earned his BSE and MSE at Drake University. He taught all the sciences at Johnston for seven years and then 37 years at East High, never missing a day of school for health reasons. Paul was chosen by former East High Students attending Grinnell College as "Teacher of the Year." He was honored by being chosen for the East High School Hall of Fame, as well as the East High Athletic Hall of Fame. He farmed in the Waukee area for 27 of those years.

Friends and family were important to Paul. He gave and received a great deal of support for and with them in play and work. He was known for his great sense of humor. He enjoyed his teaching, farming, card playing and neighborhood friends and was an active member at Capitol Hill Lutheran Church for most of his adult life.

Paul served as care giver for over 20 years for Jerri and her sister, Juanita Buck, who both had FSH muscular dystrophy.

Survivors include daughter Mary Sloan, sister Betty Davidson, brothers Harold (Karla) and Jerry (Barbara) Sloan. He was preceded in death by his wife Jerri and son Paul Sloan, brother-in-law Clarence Davidson, brother Donald and sister-in-law Charmeon Sloan. His positive thumbprint touched countless high school students and his many nieces, nephews, friends and "host" foreign exchange granddaughters.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, private services will be held at Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in Des Moines, on Thursday February 11, 2021, at 10:30 am, followed by internment at Masonic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Capitol Hill Lutheran Church or East High Alumni Association (Class of '46 Scholarship Fund).

The service will be livestreamed on the Iles website. Go to IlesCares.com at 10:15 am Thursday and scroll to the bottom of Paul's obituary to join in the service.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines Register from Feb. 8 to Feb. 9, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Sloan

Sponsored by the Des Moines Register.

3 Entries

Martha Stevenson

February 12, 2021

Paul Sloan was the teacher who taught me to love science. Because of his imprint on my life, my children and grandchildren have been taught that science is important and should be respected. One of my grandchildren has worked as a lab assistant throughout his college years and will become a chemistry teacher when he graduates this Spring. I know that Mr Sloan’s influence has touched many lives and several generations and for that I am grateful.

Sherri (Nielsen) Stiffin

February 9, 2021

Paul was my science teacher at East. He was so good with us knuckleheads (LOL). Always enjoyed class and learned a lot. RIP Mr. Sloan.

Randy Nordaker

February 8, 2021

I knew Paul Sloan both as a teacher AND as a friend that I visited many times in his home in Urbandale. My biggest memory was when I saw him after school one night, both of us staying to do schoolwork/grading in our classrooms, I saw him in 'manure boots' walking down the stairway. I kiddingly asked him why he was wearing them 'with his 3 piece suit on, as always, as he taught each school day, and he said he needed to get home right away so he could feed his cattle. "What?" I said - "you have a farm to take care of??" From that day on I looked at Paul differently (in a good way of course - he worked soooo hard as a teacher everyday and now I know he has a LOT of work to do at home too). That was 30 years ago, I've retired from East High School too. He and his wife lived on the same street as a couple from church I know - so I'd stop to see them a few times a year for a few years. We had GREAT conversations; his wife Jerri was so sweet and quite a talker. I feel blessed to have worked with Paul 'through the years' at EHS AND to have spent time with him after his retirement. I haven't seen him for, at least, 5 years or so. Paul and Mary, THANKS for putting a perfect picture of your dad in the paper this week - that's his smile for sure. Many blessings to you and your families.

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