Richard Ellison Paul
July 13, 2009
Dr. Richard Paul died peacefully July l3 at Arbor Springs Care
Facility shortly after his 89th birthday. This is just 6 months after the death of hls wife of 65 years, Marie. Dr. Paul had an active and fulfilling life and career. He was born to Dr. J.D. and Mildred Paul on July 1, 192O in Anamosa, Iowa. He was yery active in sports and many other outside activities at Anamosa H.S. He received a scholarship to play football at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, but because of a severe knee injury changed hls focus to his second love, music. While in college he was asked to join several midwestern 'territorial' bands and spent his summers playing clarinet and saxophone in the ballrooms of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Omaha.
In 1942 after graduation from college he married Marie Dolson
from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they moved to Iowa City where he
received his M.D. degree. Subsequently he was drafted into the
Navy and spent most of the war in the South Pacific. Following the war he and Marie moved to Des Moines where he completed a
residency in general surgery at the V.A. hospital. He was in the
process of setting up a solo surgery praetice when in 1953 he was again called to serve his country and was assigned to a M*A*S*H unit in Korea. It was in Korea that he learned the skills in trauma and vascular surgery which he later used in his surgical practice in Des Molnes. Dr. Paul was on the staff of several hospitals in the city but called Iowa Methodist Medical Center his home base. He was highly regarded as a surgeon and as a compassionate physician.
Dr. Paul was an active pllot and owned his own airplane for many
years. He was a member of the flying bird men and flying
physicians. He loved to hunt pheasants and quail and would often
travel with his boys and friends to hunt in southern Iowa near Mt. Ayr. He was an avid fisherman and loved to fish in the Ozarks, Florlda Keys, Canada and finally at his lake home on Lake Vermillon near Virginia, MN. He loved sports cars and had several of his own. He served as the track surgeon at Greenwood Raceway in Indianola and at Sebring Raceway in Florida.
He was an avid gardener and had beautiful vegetable and flower gardens at his lake home. Dr. Paul loved pets and was known for the 4 monkeys that he and Marie had for almost 2 decades. Dr. Paul will be sorely missed as he offered so much to those he touched.
He is survived by his 3 sons: R. Douglas (Gayle), in Weaverville, NC; Bruce (Mary Ann) in Odessa, FL; and David (Deb) in Baxter, MN; and his grandchildren: Joan Ellison, Amanda Paul-Gordon, Deanna, Ryan, Ashley, Michael, and Stephanie
Paul. He was preceeded in death by his parents and his brother Bob and sister Barbara.
The body will be cremated and funeral arrangements are pending.
Memorial contributions in Dr. Paul's name can be made to The Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and to Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
Online condolences may be sent to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Con and Jeannette Hamborg
07/24/2009
Dear Deb and David, Gayle and Doug, Bruce and Mary Ann,
Con and I are so sorry to hear of the sad loss of both your mother and dad. We hold so many beautiful memories of our days together at Lake Vermilion. We too will miss them and feel honored in having known them for so many years. I remember when Melissa was visiting as a baby, and Deb when you were working for Jake! Remember meeting Mary Ann there at the lake, too.
We send you all our most sincere sympathy and hope that time will help to ease the pain. Know they are now at peace.
Our love, Con and Jeannette
Mary Zimmerman Lehman
07/20/2009
Doug and the rest of the Paul family
I am so sorry to hear of the death of both your mom and dad this past year. We have passed on the news to my dad in AZ. Although it was many years ago, I am thankful to have known your parents.
You are in our prayers.
Mary and Bill Lehman
Becky Paul-Fields
07/19/2009
Doug, Bruce, David and Families,
I was so sorry to hear of Marie's and Dick's passings. We all had wonderful times as kids when we got together at Grandma & Grandpa Paul's. I have some very fond memories of visiting all of you when I stayed with them. I especially remember your folks dressing Susie the momkey up in some of her outfits. Our dads sure did have some unusual pets and interesting hobbies.
They will all be missed.
Love,
Becky
Steve Paul
07/18/2009
Sorry to hear about Dick and Marie, I always enjoyed them the few times we were able to get together. I believe Dick and Dad had a special talent for caring for their patients.
Steve and Judy
John & Leila Wanna
07/18/2009
To Doug & family
We are sorry to hear about your father's death.Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.We are also sorry to learn about your mother's death too from reading the obituary.Our sincere condolences to all of you.
John & Leila
Lucy Huebner
07/18/2009
Our family absolutely loved Dick Paul. Fond memories of summer vacation at Lake Sylvan in Minnesota. With love and condolences to the family and God bless!
Lucy Huebner and family
Clark and Marilyn Colby
07/18/2009
Our Sympathy to all the Paul family.We were sorry to hear of your father's death.Also,I'm afraid we were out of town to hear of your Mothers death.We had some great times with them through the years,and many fun memories to remember forever.It is so hard for us to believe how quickly the years have gone by.Thinking of you all,with our deepest sympathy.Clark and Marilyn Colby
Jim & Jo Duwelius
07/17/2009
Doug, Bruce, David and families,
We saw your father's obituary in the Des Moines paper this morning and we want you to know how sorry we are. You may not remember us, but we've met all of you at one time or another when Dick and Marie had their condo on Longboat Key. We had many good times with them...they were a fun couple to be with. We miss them when we are down there. Your dad used to e-mail us or call now and then and we spent some time with them at Lake Vermilion. We heard when we were in Longboat this past season that Marie had passed away. We were unable to reach your father by phone or e-mail. That must have been when he went into a home. Our home is still in Grundy Center, IA, but we continue to winter on Longboat as we have two daughters and families in FL and we can spend more time with them. We tried calling a Bruce Paul when we were in Tampa. We left a message, but never heard from anyone. There were many Pauls listed in the phone book. We hope that you are all doing well. You have our sincere sympathy.
Jim & Jo Duwelius
Dr. Stan Thieman
07/17/2009
Dr. Paul was my neighbor as I grew up on Sunset Terrace...I remember many things about him but most of all that he was respected, loved, and extremely disciplined.
This world was better because he was in it and all those he performed surgery on (including myself) couldn't have found a better healer.
my heartfelt condolences to the entire family,
sincerely, Stan Thieman D.V.M. 7008 Sunset Terrace
Carmen Pender
07/17/2009
I offer my sympathy to you; Dr. Paul's children and grandchildren.
I started working for Dr. Paul in the 1980's while his office was located in the Equitable Building, and then eventually made our way to house with Vascular Surgeons at Iowa Methodist Medical Plaza. It was hard to move on when he stopped seeing patients and no longer needed my services.
He was a wonderful man to work with and a great teacher. I have thought of he and Marie frequently since that time. My brother is a member of Izaak Walton League and would keep me up to date on how Dr. Paul was doing until he was no longer able to attend.
He was a great man that made a big impression on me and I feel honored to have been able to work for him.
william newland
07/17/2009
Dick was a tremendous physician and colleague, he was very gracious to me in my early years of practice and made me feel comfortable as a new member of the medical staff, I always enjoyed chatting with him about medicine ,fishing ,and life in general. It was a great pleasure to practice with Doug and Dick over the years and their professionalism and friendship will be long remembered
Carol & Rand
07/17/2009
Doug & Gayle -- sending our sincere sympathies in the loss of your dad.
Gail Lane
07/17/2009
I wish to express my sympathy to you on the loss of your father. I worked with Dr. Paul at the old Bankers Life Insurance company. Iam a nurse and met your dad while reviewing insurance claims. He was the greatest, he taught me to think like a physician and not like a nurse. I think with out his willingness to help me in my work I would have left Bankers soon after I began working there 26 years ago.
I want you to know he was very proud of his sons and spoke of you often in the years I knew him...and of course he adored your mother. I lost my father two weeks ago and know the saddness you are feeling, please know my thoughts and prayers are with each of you and your families.
Irene (Marek) Ayers
07/17/2009
Dear Family of Dick Paul,
I was a friend and classmate of Dick all through High School in Anamosa. We both played clarinet, sang in mixed quartet, competed in typing, etc. He never fritterd away time, always had some project going. His Dad, Dr. John Dale Paul delivered me into this world out on the farm, along with my brothers and sisters. He came to the farm, my mother always had an apple pie ready for him, a treat, in long birth time hours. Dick always kidded about the lard used in the crusts( always sooo good) that his mother would never use.
I left for a nursing degree in Chicago. Dick came to see me for a sightseeing trip one time and then our busy lives lost track of one another. After my marriage, spent all the years in Milwaukee and then after my husbands retirement became a Florida resident. My Birthday, a month earlier than Dicks in June 12th, I celebrated my 89th. All of our gang is gone now, Helen Porter, Phyllis Steele, Carmela O'Toole, Dorothy Gassen (Dicks friend) . I don't know about the Westphals, Jimmy Conrad, but I guess we can't be here forever. My husband is gone but I have 3 lovely daughters , son in laws, two of them M.D's and two grandsons about to get their M.D.'s and a grandaughter as a physicians asst.
I would love to hear from anyone regarding your careers or from Bruce and Mary Ann, who are not far away, stop by to see me in Naples sometime. I drove to the Villages to stay with a friend, during our last hurricane.
You can all be proud of your Dad, he contributed a great deal in so many ways. I am grateful to have been a part of his early life.
Sincerely, Irene
Trudy Black
07/17/2009
I worked many years in the PACU at Ia Meth Medical Center and remember Dr. R Paul fondly. He positivly affected so many. Not only was he a competent, compassionate physican to his patients but treated the staff with respect and appreciation.
My condolences to the family , esp. to Doug and Gayle who I also have had the pleasure of knowing and working with.