Carroll Douglas Paulson

Carroll D. Paulson, 80, of Stratford, Iowa and formerly of Ogden, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Stratford Care Center in Stratford.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 15th from 5-7 pm and the funeral service will be on Friday, June 16th at 10 am. Both will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden. 

Carroll Douglas Paulson, son of Walter (Bob) and Pauline (Mars) Paulson was born on April 1st 1943 in Ogden, Iowa. He graduated from Ogden High School with the Class of 1961. That fall he started attending Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and was a member of their 1st ever football team. Carroll excelled on the football field, even while being distracted by a cute little red-haired cheerleader named Judy. She became the love of his life, his wife and the mother of their 3 children. After leaving Ellsworth, Carroll spent an undetermined amount of time at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. It turned out that without football, college wasn’t Carroll’s “thing” so we don’t really talk about that. 😊

On June 19th, 1966, Carroll & Judy united in marriage at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. The couple spent time on a farm northwest of Ogden, in Harmony, MN & also an acreage south of Beaver until they settled on the family farm northwest of Ogden. There he farmed with his dad until they sold the farm in 1991 and the family moved to town in Ogden. Carroll worked for Johnson & Son’s selling real estate until his youngest child was out of school and then he spent the rest of his working life driving semi for Barr Nunn, Madden Trucking and Fareway.

Carroll was an avid Cyclones & Cubs fan, but his most favorite teams were the teams that his children & grandchildren played on. In his spare time, he could be found at every sporting event for the Ogden Bulldogs watching his children compete in various sports. Becoming a grandpa was his favorite role ever. He was their biggest fan and became known to many Seneca (Illinois) Irish, PCM Mustangs, JC United Softball & Roland-Story Norseman as “Papa Carroll” as his grandchildren and many of their friends affectionately called him. It wasn’t only sporting events where he supported his grandchildren. He was also spotted at many dance recitals, band concerts and chorus concerts. If his grandchildren participated, he and Judy were likely there.

When he wasn’t busy watching his grandchildren in their activities, he & Judy enjoyed many years of holding season tickets for both ISU football and basketball. He patiently supported Judy’s obsession with trying to get photos with as many athletes & coaches as possible and would proudly post them on Facebook and print to display at home.

In addition to his parents, Carroll was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Elwood & Ethel Williams of Iowa Falls, sister-in-law & brother-in-law Carol & Merlyn Newberg of Montezuma, IA and nephew Mike Newberg of Gretna, Nebraska.

Survivors include his loving wife, Judy of Stratford; children Chad Paulson of Seneca, Illinois; Carrie Burns and husband Scott of Prairie City and Christopher and wife Amanda Paulson of Boone; grandchildren Claudia Paulson & her partner Ryan Smith of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Caroline & Elizabeth Paulson of Pontiac, Illinois; Skylar & Jacob Burns of Prairie City, Iowa and Morgan, Delaney & Cael Paulson of Boone; sister Joanne Ratcliff & her husband Bob of Crystal Lake, Illinois; sister-in-law Linda Schelling & her husband Bob of Marshalltown and brother-in-law Larry Williams and his wife Laura of Foristell, Missouri, his trusted canine companion, Rizzo, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden.