Paul Michael King

Paul Michael King passed away August 20, 2025, at home with his family and a view of his cattle and fields.

Paul was born August 9,1942 in Des Moines to Joseph and Helen (Delles) King of Cumming, Iowa, as the third of seven children. Growing up he worked with his parents and siblings on the family dairy farm near the St. Patrick's Irish Settlement parish outside Cumming. He enjoyed playing baseball in his youth, an interest that stayed with him throughout his life.

He graduated from Martensdale High School in 1960, and he began his work life at the Cumming Elevator and Strable Construction.

In 1965 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he did his basic training Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, with additional training in Ft. Lee, Virginia, before he was transferred to Ft. Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. A skiing accident kept him from a scheduled deployment to Vietnam, and instead he served the remainder of his tour in Alaska, filling the role of company clerk and keeping a long-distance correspondence with his bride-to-be, Rena Harkin.

Paul was honorably discharged and arrived home on Easter weekend,1967, and he and Rena married on July 1 at St. John's Catholic Church in Cumming.

The couple moved to their family home and farm in 1972, growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa hay, and throughout the years they raised cattle, hogs, chickens, and a whole mess of children.

The farm and family were intertwined, as Paul was equally devoted to both. Farming suited his independent and willful nature, helping him endure fluctuations in weather, markets, and farm policy.

He also served St. John's Catholic Church in many different volunteer roles, including trustee, parish council, member of the Knights of Columbus, and perhaps most notably, a long-time role of organizing the annual Lenten fish fries, where his coleslaw recipe became famous.

Paul was an active member of the American Legion Post #562 for an amazing 57 years. He participated in many years of military funeral honors for fellow veterans. Each Memorial Day he took part in the Legion Post tour of local cemeteries to honor departed veterans with a memorial tribute and a 21-gun salute.

He also served for many years on the Warren County Farm Services Agency Committee.

With his big, chatty personality, Paul made friends everywhere he went, particularly with people who could endure a good-natured teasing. He loved a good story or a fitting nickname, and he didn't suffer fools or braggarts gladly. Paul was hardworking and he possessed an energy level that defied his years for decades. He leaves a legacy of family, faith, an unfailing work ethic, and the value of a good sense of humor. He often commented that he never worked a day in his life, as he could not imagine any other path.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Jennifer, brother Tom, and his favorite dog Blue. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rena; their children Julie (Jamie) Fitzgerald, Jeff (Brenda) King, Sara (Scott Cole) King Cole, Kari (Jason Reyerson) Faust, Dan (Sara) King, and Jill (Todd) Versteeg; grandchildren Ryan (Emily) Harter, Elizabeth (Gabriel) Moreno, Natalie Harter, Ashley (fiancé Nathan Williams) Fitzgerald, Jessica Perkins, Emma King, Violet and Sam Cole, Kathryn (Landon) Criswell, Gretchen (Drake Karnes) Faust, Paul, Charlie, and Gus King, Joseph and Nora Versteeg; great-grandchildren Greyson and Leo Harter, Henry Criswell, and Matteo and Alana Moreno. He is also survived by siblings Robert (Janice), Mary Moore, Ruth Wilson, John (Cheryl), Helen (Norm) Sabol, and in-laws Carol King, Clare Neff, Lucille Morinelli, Earl Seymour, Richard (Ricky) Harkin, Dona Harkin, and Linda Harkin. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.

The family thanks the kind and supportive caregivers from the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines and Mercy Hospice, and the many friends and relatives who visited and shared stories over the last few months. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Veterans in Agriculture, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Cumming American Legion Post 562, or to a local food pantry.

Visitation will be Monday, August 25, from 4 -7 pm at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Norwalk, with a rosary. A funeral mass will be said at St. John's at 10 am on Tuesday, August 26, followed by a luncheon. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Irish Settlement, Cumming, Iowa.