Paul L. Hartwell

Paul LaVerne Hartwell, 83, Clear Lake, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at the Hancock Regional Health Center in Britt, Iowa.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave. North, Clear Lake, with the Reverend Bernie Colorado officiating.  Military honors will be conducted by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Clear Lake, at the church.  Inurnment will be at a later date in the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Saturday at the church.

Those wishing to give a memorial in his memory may wish to consider in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Humane Society of North Iowa, or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.  

Paul LaVerne Hartwell was born on April 7, 1931, in Nora Springs, Iowa, the son of Percy L. and Charlotte (Fouch) Hartwell.  Paul graduated from Nora Springs High School.  He was inducted into the Army on Aug. 9, 1949 in Waterloo, Iowa, and served his country honorably and faithfully in the Korean Conflict until his honorable discharge on Oct. 26, 1951, at Ft. Riley, Kan.  Paul attended N.I.A.C.C. for a short time and graduated from Buena Vista University with a B.A. degree in Accounting and Education.  Paul was a carrier for the United States Postal Service in Mason City for 20 years, managed the Clear Lake Agency of the Des Moines Register for 20 years, taught and coached track and helped coach football at Ventura High School for 20 years.  During that time, he loved going on trips with his track team to the Drake Relays and State Track Meets.  Paul was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, loved to golf, and work with youth athletics (baseball and hockey) in Clear Lake. Paul was named to River City Softball Hall of Fame, enjoyed having coffee with his coffee group at McDonalds, Breakfast Club at the Backyard Deli, and lunch at the Clear Lake Senior Citizens Center.  He also loved collecting and working on classic cars.

He was united in marriage to Jeralyn Cash on Dec. 3, 1953, in Clear Lake.  She preceded him in death on Nov. 21, 1995.  He was united in marriage to Gerda Mikkelsen on Feb. 15, 1999, in Mesa, Az.  

He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the church choir, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Clear Lake, and enjoyed his trip to Washington, D.C. with his sister, Helen, as part of the Honor Flight in 2012.  He was also a member of the Clear Lake Lions Club for 50 years and active in the Clear Lake Evening Lions.  

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Gerda Hartwell, of Charles City, Iowa; two sons, Stephen (Keri) Hartwell, of Clear Lake, Kevin (Tracy) Hartwell, of Libertyville, Ill.; two daughters, Paula (Ron) Gerhardt, of Clear Lake, and Tracy (Roger) Robinson, of Ames, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his sister, Helen Crowell of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; as well as nieces, nephews, and many other extended family members and friends.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jerry Hartwell; five brothers, Leland, Gilbert, Gerald, Vaughn, and Daniel Hartwell; and one sister, Charlotte Tipton.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.