Dean F. Paulsmeyer of Hoffman passed at Carlyle Healthcare and Senior Living on Friday, December 30, 2022. He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-granddaughters.
He was born in Hoffman on May 23, 1930, the son of the late Arthur and Martha (Brandhorst) Paulsmeyer. He married Marlene (Abbas) in Lennox, South Dakota on May 1, 1955, and she preceded him in death on January 8, 2011.
Dean is survived by son Boyd Paulsmeyer and wife Karen of Petersburg, Illinois, daughter Janice Paulsmeyer of O’Fallon, Illinois, and son Owen Paulsmeyer and wife Stephanie of Hoffman, Illinois. Grandchildren: Kaleigh (Parker) Gibson of Glen Carbon, Illinois. Whitney Paulsmeyer (Fiancé’ Matt) of Chicago, Illinois. Michael Paulsmeyer of Madison, Wisconsin. Nicolas Paulsmeyer, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Clayton Paulsmeyer of Okinawa, Japan. Whitney Reynolds and husband Mike of Carlyle, Illinois. Kailee Bass and husband Zachary of Carlyle, Illinois. Eli Paulsmeyer of Hoffman, Illinois. And four great-granddaughters.
Dean was preceded in death by his sister Ruth Simon and brother-in-law. Donald Simon.
Dean lived most of his life in Hoffman. He was a farmer and carpenter. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Hoffman. He was the Sunday School superintendent and a member of the Men’s club and choir. He helped take down the old church and build the new church. He made cross necklaces from the nails that held the slate to the roof of the steeple from the old church. When he built his house, he used the slate on his fireplace, for years he stored the steeple and brought it to the park in Hoffman for the yearly outdoor service. He had a Christmas tree planting on his farm and provided many Christmas trees for church.
He graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, and played the trombone in the marching band. One of his greatest pride was all his children had college educations. He once rode his bicycle home from Champaign to Hoffman. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. After the Army Dean wanted to travel. He decided to go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to go pheasant hunting. He enjoyed it so much that he stayed and met his wife, Marlene. After they got married, they moved to Centralia, Illinois, then bought land and started a farm in Hoffman. He always wanted to marry someone who shared the same hymnal, which meant she was Lutheran and sang. They were members of the church choir for years.
Dean would take the family on Sunday drives hunting for arrowheads and glass bottles. He occasionally hunted rabbits and took the family fishing. He enjoyed art and drew cartoons, pictures, and paintings for his family.
He worked for Washington County Soil Conservation and the Hollywood Candy Company, in Centralia. He had a seamless flooring business. He was involved in many things in the community. He was a 4-H leader for more than 25 years. Clinton County Fair Board, The Carlyle Audubon Society, he started the newsletter “Bird Notes”. Bird-watching was one of his favorite activities. He made and gave away birdhouses and bluebird houses. He would get the wood from a grocery store in Centralia when fruit was shipped in wooden crates. It was always interesting to see what wood his projects were made from. He loved carpentry and working with wood. He built his house and made cabinets and picture frames. Once he made crosses for the families of Blessed Savior Lutheran Church in O’Fallon, Illinois during Lent, as part of the Easter story. He raised Black Angus cattle and was a member of the Angus Association. He raised Weimaraner and dachshund dogs.
He had a dry sense of humor which made people laugh and sometimes embarrassed his children. He enjoyed traveling back to South Dakota, Michigan, and Texas to visit family and friends. He did a servant event at Camp Pioneer in Angola New York with his family. He always helped clean up after storms and helped family and friends.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 4, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman. Interment will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Hoffman. Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Paulsmeyer are suggested to the family and will be received at the service or through Zieren Funeral Home.
