I thought some of you might enjoy reading his obituary:
Curtis Mitchell Paulsen Obituary
Curtis Mitchell Paulsen, age 78, of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away December 13, 2004 at Home Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. He was born on October 21, 1926 in Sioux City, Iowa to Jens and Bernice Paulsen of Turin, Iowa.
A resident of Rensselaer since 1962, Curt had been an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Saint Joseph’s College. He had previously taught mathematics and physics at Cunningham, Kansas; Boone, Iowa; Oceanside, New York; Westmont, Illinois; Boone Grove, Indiana and Newton Schools in Indiana.
Curt attended primary and secondary schools in his hometown of Turin and later at Onawa, Iowa. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball and graduated with honors with the Onawa High School Class of 1944. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy on his 18th birthday and graduated from Great Lakes Naval Training Station in December 1944. His World War II service included flying as aircrew from the state of Washington and aboard the U.S.S. Markob on the Yellow River in China.
Following a 1946 honorable discharge, he attended the University of South Dakota where he played varsity baseball and was in the university orchestra playing the violin. Following a 1950 graduation with a degree in mathematics and physics, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy and returned to active duty during the Korean War. Reporting to LST-975 as the Engineering Officer, he made 60 amphibious landings with the ship, including the famous landing at Inchon, North Korea.
Returning to education after the Korean War, he continued his association with the Naval Reserve for over 20 years, including active duty during the war in Viet Nam. After several years of teaching, he married his wife and love of 47 years, Ruth Elaine, in Nevada, Iowa on June 1, 1957. They returned to the University of South Dakota where Curt was a National Science Foundation grant recipient and he earned a Masters Degree in 1960. More post-graduate studies followed at the University of Missouri in Columbia before he and Ruth moved to Rensselaer.
Curt was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent in Oceanside, New York and as a Lay Leader in Rensselaer. He was active with Methodist Men and was a President of that association. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 29, the Rensselaer Lions Club, the Sinfonian music fraternity and the National Mathematics Society. For many years he worked at Purdue University football games, and he was an avid Chicago Cub and Bears fan. His interests included many sports, hunting, fishing, and music; he played in softball and bowling leagues and later coached Little League, Babe Ruth and collegiate baseball at Saint Joseph’s College.
Curtis Paulsen is survived by his wife, Ruth Elaine of Rensselaer; his son Captain James and Susan Paulsen, USN, of Washington, D.C.; his son Christian and Julie Paulsen of Little Rock, Arkansas; his son Jonathon and Nancy of Lafayette, Indiana. His grandchildren are Christian, Daniel, Kaitlyn, Madeline, David and Mackenzie. Curtis was preceded in death by his parents Jens and Bernice.
The family will receive friends at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer on Friday, December 17, 2004 from 4 to 8 p.m. CST. The Lions Club will hold a service that night at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 18, 2004 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Rensselaer with Pastor John Hostetter officiating. Following a military ceremony at Steven’s Funeral Chapel of Ames, Iowa on December 21, 2004, Curt will be interred at White Oak Cemetery with family members south of Ames. Memorials may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial by calling 219.866.7271. For more information see
www.jacksonfuneral.com