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Paul grew up in Waukon, Clinton and Ossian and graduated from South Winneshiek Community High School in Calmar in the Class of 1980. He continued his education at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas on August 10, 1984. Paul began his funeral service career working at the Schmitz Funeral Home in Ossian when he was 12 years old. He served his internship at the Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids and continued there as a licensed funeral director for one year. On September 1, 1986 Paul moved to Oelwein and joined the Brant-Kerns-Jamison Funeral Home in Oelwein and the Kerns-Jamison Funeral Homes in Maynard and Arlington as a funeral director. He purchased half of the funeral homes on January 1, 1993 and became the sole owner on July 31, 2014. Paul purchased Floral Hills Memorial Gardens on January 1, 2004 and the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop on January 1, 2020. Paul formerly served the Oelwein community as a Lions Club member, Exchange Club member, president of Parent Share and Support, president of the Fayette County Hospice, vice-president of Alternative Living Corporation, board member of the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, board member and president of Prairie View Residential Care Facility and as a co-chair of the Oelwein RAGBRAI Organizational Committee when Oelwein was an overnight host town in 2002. Paul is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and the International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Directors Association. In Oelwein, he is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he has served as Pastoral Council president, chair of the Finance Committee, member of the Board of Education, Youth Commission, Cemetery Board and chairman of the Parish Center Renovation & Fundraising Committee. He is also active in the Knights of Columbus where he is a Past Grand Knight, member of the Oelwein Chamber of Commerce & Area Development, Hub City Heritage Corporation, Friends of the Library and Rotary International. Paul is currently a board member of the Oelwein Area United Way Board where he has previously served as President, Corporate Committee Chairman and Drive Chairman. Paul’s family includes his three daughters: Abby (Joe) Bouska, Betsy (Levi) Bostian and Molly Schmitz. Paul enjoys traveling, trout fishing, working in his yard and spending time with his family and friends.
