Ralph Theodore Pauley Sr.

Mass of Christian Burial was held for Ralph Theodore Pauley Sr. at 10 a.m. on Aug. 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Woodbine. Celebrant was the Rev. Paul Strittmatter. Musicians were Mary Kay Eby and Chad Williams with selections of "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art."

Honorary pallbearers were Linda Croy, Donna Fullerton, Dan Pauley, Ken Pauley, Roger Schmitz, Rodney Weis and Ralph's 14 grandchildren. Pallbearers were Ronald Pauley, Donald Pauley, Ralph Pauley Jr., Jeff Pauley, Tom Schwertley Sr. and Bruce Williams.

Ralph Theodore Pauley Sr. was born on Feb. 10, 1926, in Shelby County near Panama to parents Hubert and Anna (Mickels) Pauley. He graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School in Panama. He began farming with his brother Albert near Tenant. On Feb. 27, 1946, Ralph married Veronica Gau at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. They farmed near Tenant, then east of Panama.

After moving to Defiance, Ralph purchased the Standard Tank Wagon and operated that for six years. The family then moved to Westphalia where Ralph was the custodian for the parish.

They later farmed east of Westphalia before buying a farm east of Woodbine in January 1971. Ralph also did carpentry work and drove the school bus for the Harlan and Woodbine schools. In 1996, the couple moved into Woodbine. Ralph sold cemetery monuments from Bloom Monument Co. and worked as a janitor at the Woodland Apartments for a number of years. Ralph became a resident of Rose Vista Nursing Home in November 2004.

Ralph was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Woodbine and had served as an usher there. The couple was members of the Woodbine and Missouri Valley dance clubs. Ralph also loved to go to auctions. Ralph died on Aug. 8 at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine at the age of 81 years, five months and 29 days.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Mary Williams; infant son, Gerard; grandson, Scott Williams and brothers, Leo, Albert, Zeno and Fred. He is survived by his wife Veronica Pauley of Woodbine; five children Ron and Donna Pauley of Shelby, Don and Helga Pauley of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Shirley and Tom Schwertley of Logan; Ralph Jr. and Shelli Pauley and Jeff Pauley, all of Woodbine; son-in-law Bruce Williams of Woodbine; 14 grandchildren, Don Jr., Steffanie, Robert, Mark, Brenda, Rhonda, Scott (deceased), Chad, Jennifer, Ryan, Gina, Kyle, Melissa and Vincent; 11 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Ann Weis of Woodbine and Marcella Schmitz of Harlan; brother, Andy and Grace Pauley of Panama and many other relatives and friends.

Final resting place was in the Woodbine Cemetery, Woodbine.

Fouts Funeral Home

501 Normal St.

Woodbine, IA

Ph: 647-2221