Vernon D. Pauls

Vernon D. Pauls, 92, died Aug. 20 at Kidron Bethel Health Care. He was born Aug. 3 1930 to George A. and Sarah (Fehdrau) Pauls, rural Inman, KS. Vernon attended elementary schools in McPherson County and graduated from Inman High School in 1948. He was baptized June 9, 1946 by Rev. P.T. Neufeld at the Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman, KS.

Vernon attended Bethel College for one year, after which he was qualified to teach
elementary school. He then accepted a position in a one-room school in Marion County. He alternated studying at Bethel and teaching until graduating in 1956. During these years he served two years in Mennonite voluntary service which included teaching one and half years in Cuauhtemoc Mexico and six months working at Brooklane Hospital in Maryland. In 1958 he accepted a position at Bethel College as admissions counselor, after which he attended the University of Kansas where he received a Master’s degree in guidance and counseling. He was a member of the Kansas Teachers’ Association, National Education Association, and a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa. After retirement Vernon participated in the McPherson County and Harvey County Retired Teachers’ Associations.

Vernon married Janice Reusser in 1961 at Moundridge, KS. They spent two years living in Lawrence, KS. Following graduation from KU, they moved to Hillsboro for two years and then to McPherson where they lived for fourteen years before moving to Vernon’s home place west of McPherson. During his time in the McPherson area, Vernon worked as a guidance counselor first at McPherson Junior High School and completed his time at McPherson High School, retiring in 1993. In 2006, they moved to North Newton and to Kidron Bethel Retirement Village in 2018.

Vernon considered the farm a good place to raise their two Sons but also viewed it as a future retirement project. He planted a small orchard with numerous varieties of apple trees as well as many cherry trees. He also enjoyed his shop where he constructed small woodworking projects and learned how to make wooden pens on his lathe. He loved to go fishing and spent many hours working in their vegetable garden.

Survivors include his wife, Janice, sons, Steve (Linda) Pauls of Fresno, CA. and Brian (Nikki) Pauls of Overland Park, KS.; five grandchildren, Rowan, Nolan and Daniel Pauls of Fresno and Eleanor (Yiyi) and Simone (Cece) Pauls of Overland Park. Other survivors include two brothers, Melvin (Nancy) Pauls of Newton and Ron (Evelyn) Pauls of Henderson, NE., a sister, Lavella (Howard) Delaplane ofAmes, OK. and nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, an infant daughter, and a brother-in-law.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, KS on Sept. 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Memorial gifts in Vernon’s name may be given to Kidron Bethel Healthcare Benevolent Fund or Phoenix Hospice in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, KS