Wayne was a good and honest man of the earth. He was born on April 26, 1927, the eldest of eight children to Emma and Leroy Paulsen and attended Pleasant Ridge country school and Avoca High School graduating in 1944. He started farming in 1951, buying a new Farmall ‘M’ tractor, a three-bottom plow and a two-row cultivator – all for $3000. He also bought his first horse for $40 and owned and rode horses for many years. He never lost his love for growing things and in his 80’s his vegetable garden included 250 tomato plants, 50 cucumbers, 50 cabbages, 50 broccoli, a field of sweet corn, and more. The downside was several hearing aids which were dropped and never recovered.
In August 1946 he married Mary Ann Walter, a Walnut girl, and they raised a family of three children. They were divorced in 1981 and in 1987 he married Bobbie West, a Neola girl. They were married until her passing in 2021. After moving from their farm, they lived at Peace Haven in Walnut for several years until his recent passing on January 21.
Wayne was a man of God. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca and served in many ways including Sunday School teacher, council member, choir member, confirmation instructor, and as Lay Assistant, beginning in 1986 serving for many years. One of his duties was visiting the sick and elderly members of the congregation and he loved to reminisce with them and hear their stories of earlier years. He was interested in genealogy and did lots of work researching his family’s origins and making scrapbooks with photos and information about them.
Wayne was a man of the community. He was a past president of the East Pottawattamie County Farm Bureau and served on the Rural Electric Cooperative board in Harlan for many years. He served on the East Pottawattamie County Fair Board for several years including as president. He helped promote the CROP Walk which was held each fall for many years. In 1993 Wayne was honored by the Avoca Business and Professional Association with their Outstanding Citizen Award. After retiring from farming, he drove a school bus for the Avoca schools for several years.
He (guitar) and Bobbie (accordion) were members of the Good Timers Country and Gospel band for several years entertaining at churches, rest homes and other gatherings. Through his efforts the Country Music Festival was held in Avoca for many years and he also had a major part in the restoration of the Opera House in Walnut.
Wayne lived his life as a very caring and compassionate person and touched the lives of many people in his community. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary and second wife Bobbie, son David and two brothers, Ned and Chris Paulsen. He is survived by two daughters, Janice Irwin, Sunbury, OH and Jackie Paulsen, Bellevue, NE; four sisters, Norma Pattee and Marilyn Chapman of Avoca, Sharon Madsen, Omaha; Beverly Camblin, Laguna Woods, CA, and one brother, Gary Paulsen, Council Bluffs; two grandsons Heath Paulsen, Bellevue and Henry Paulsen, Avoca plus three stepchildren, five great-grandchildren: Hayli, Saydi, Ava, McKenna and Cruz; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. (www.pauleyjones.com)