Alfred Paulsen, son of Cris and Minnie (Jensen) Paulsen, was born January 17, 1897 at Blair, Nebraska and passed from this life on April 10, 1984 at the Cozad Community Hospital in Cozad, Nebraska. He was 87 years of age.

Alfred grew up in the Blair area and received his education there.

On August 31, 1918 he was united in marriage to Rena F. Peterson. Last summer, Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Five children were born to this marriage: Lyle, Cleo, Earl, Gene and Ivan.

After marriage, Alfred and Rena made their home in eastern Nebraska in or near the communities of Blair, Fremont and Omaha. Alfred was engaged in farming, then went into business and then when the time was right, went into the building trade. In 1945 Alfred and Rena moved to Cozad where he continued in the building trades industry which became Paulsen Building and supply Incorporated in 1952. He remained active in the business until the mid ‘70s and up until a couple of years ago he made a daily trek to Paulsen Building and Supply.

His business associates and family have spoken of his fairness, honesty and his adherence to quality. He is referred to as a gentleman, a family man, and one who lived by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. I’ve heard mention of his dry sense of humor and his penchant for subtle teasing.

He liked to fish and had the first cabin on Midway Lake, concrete block, of course!

Alfred was a member of First United Methodist Church; a charter and lifetime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge No. 2250 of Cozad; and an active member of the Cozad Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cris and Minnie Paulsen, one sister, Della (Paulsen) Larsen, and one brother, David Paulsen.

He leaves to mourn in passing his wife Rena of Cozad; his five children, Lyle and wife Agnes of Tucson, Arizona; Cleo and her husband Norman Wilkins of Cozad; Earl and his wife Dody of Cozad; Gene and his wife Bonnie of Gothenburg; Ivan and his wife Shirley of Cozad; one brother, Harry of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; and two sisters, Mildred (Mrs. Oscar) Grothe of Cozad and Vivian (Mrs. Harvey) Milton of Phoenix, Arizona; 18 grand-children and 20 great-grandchildren, may other relatives and a host of friends.

A memorial has been established in his name to the Robert Henri Museum Fund of Cozad.

#2 BLAIR NATIVE DIES AT 87

Alfred Paulsen, 87, of Cozad and a native of Blair, died Tuesday, April 10 at the Cozad hospital. He was born on January 17, 1897 in Blair, and grew up and farmed in this area until 1945. He married Rena Paulsen in 1918, and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last August.

They moved to Cozad in 1945, where he founded Paulsen Building and Supply Company I 1952. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Rotary Club, and the Elks Lodge in Cozad.

Survivors include Rena, sons Lyle of Tucson, Arizona; Gene of Gothenburg, Earl and Ivan of Cozad, and daughter Cleo (Mrs. Norm Wilkins) of Cozad. Sisters Mrs. Vivian Milton of Phoenix, Mrs. Mildred Grothe of Cozad, and brother Harry of Fort Calhoun.

Funeral services were held Friday, April 13 at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad. Burial was at the Cozad Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Robert Henri Museum Fund in Alfred Paulsen’s name.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find A Grave #107643261