Richard Joseph Paulus

Richard Joseph Paulus, age 76, formerly of Rockford, IA passed away peacefully on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. with a scripture and rosary service to follow at Holy Name Catholic Church, 507 1st Ave. NW, Rockford, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the church with Father Frantz Augustin officiating. Rick will then be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.

Rick was born on April 13, 1948, in Rockford to Earl and Bernice (Sido) Paulus. He was one of eleven children and the third youngest child. He attended Rockford schools then enlisted into the United States Army on January 10,1968. Rick attended basic training at 19 years of age in Fort Carson, Colorado, then served in Vietnam until he was honorably discharged on Oct. 9, 1969.

On Jan. 31, 1970, Rick was united in marriage to Linda (Wagner) Paulus at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, IA. To their union, eight children were born. They made their home in Rockford and Rick worked various jobs including farming until he found his calling as a skilled welder and metal fabricator. He also taught welding courses at North Iowa Area Community College for 15 years and owned his own business Rick’s Welding Repair. Rick retired from Green Limestone in 2014.

Rick loved to travel, especially to his favorite place, Las Vegas. It wasn’t uncommon for Rick to travel to Las Vegas multiple times in a year; especially to celebrate milestones with his children. He absolutely loved the casinos and will be remembered fondly for his impersonation of winning with his, “Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!”

Rick’s hobbies included his love of muscle cars and watching NASCAR races; he was an avid Earnhardt fan. He enjoyed grilling a good ribeye steak and potatoes for family and friends.  Rick will be remembered for his hilarious personality and jokester sense of humor. Rick always made sure people knew that it was about in the third grade when he realized just how good looking he actually was…He was notoriously known as “the life of the party.”

Those left to carry on his legacy and cherish his memory include his children: Dena (Marcus) Majerczyk of Clear Lake, Robyn (Mark) Tindall of Clear Lake, Derek (Juliann) Paulus of Marion, Rykel (Spencer) Blunt of Bondurant, Ryan (Tarah) Paulus of Nora Springs, Dusten (Katie) Paulus of Spencer, Danyel (David) Reiter of Bondurant and Riley (fiancée Courtney Huels) Paulus of Norwalk; siblings: Robert (Mary) Paulus of Rockford, Sandra Losee of Parkersburg, Cindy (Bernie) Goodale of Charles City and Becky Farr of Mason City; 18 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Bernice Paulus; granddaughter, Emily Majerczyk; siblings: William Paulus, Dennis Paulus, Garry Paulus, Michael Paulus, Janice Herman and sister JoAnn Paulus in infancy and brother-in-law’s, Terry Farr, Ray Losee, and Johnny Herman.

In expression of sympathy, memorials may be given in Rick’s memory to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs or Iowa Veterans Home.