Paul Eugene Felkner, 1925-2007

The Daily Iowegian - 24 October 2007

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  Paul Eugene Felkner, age 82, of Centerville died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007 at his home west of Centerville.  He was born the son of James and Hazel (Beer) Felkner on July 16, 1925 near Centerville. He graduated from the Centerville Community Schools in 1942 and later would attend Shawnee Baptist Bible College where he was a student pilot.  On Aug. 19, 1945, Paul was united in marriage to Myrtle E. Koefoed at the Janesville United Methodist Church in Janesville. He would serve his country during WWII with the Army Air Corp from Feb. 23, 1944 until his honorable discharge on Nov. 14, 1945. Paul was baptized in the Jerome Methodist Church. He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church of Centerville at his death. Paul sang in the church choir for 44 years, seldom missing a Wed nesday night practice or a Sunday morning worship service. He also enjoyed singing with the Barbershop Chorus for several years.
  Flying and building experimental airplanes was Paul’s passion. He was a member of the Ottumwa Chapter 409 of the Experimental Aircraft Assoc iation (EAA) for many years, serving as its president for several of those years. He built an Acro Sport airplane, in which he flew over 400 hours with wife Myrtle, family and friends. He was awarded the Lindbergh Award on the Acro Sport at the International Convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association at Oshkosh, Wis., in 1992 and was also awarded the Paul Pober ezny Designer’s Award for Outstanding Craftsmanship in 1995. He won awards on this aircraft at numerous aircraft events around the United States.
  One of the fondest awards for Paul was the one that recognized his activity with the Young Eagles program of the EAA. Paul flew over 100 hours with Young Eagles, introducing scores of young people to their first flying experience. He loved taking the members of Myrtle’s Sunday School classes on their first airplane rides. Dozens of other young people learned to water ski or roller skate under Paul’s patient tutorship.
  Paul loved bowling, playing on a team for many years. He was also a conscientious member of his community, serving as president of his rural school board during its last years, serving as member and president of the Lay Advisory Board of the local hospital for several years, and giving high priority to service on the Missions Committee of his church.
  Stewardship of the land occupied many of Paul’s energies as a farmer. He and his father and uncle built nine ponds on their farm west of Centerville, plus untold miles of terraces and other soil-saving structures. He was one of the early practitioners of minimum-and-no-till farming. He preserved timbered acres in the forest preserve program, seeking to leave the Felkner land to his children in the best possible condition.
  Paul Felkner was known to his family and his community as a man of absolute honesty, integrity, and generosity. He leaves a host of friends and constituents to mourn his passing.
  He was preceded in death by his parents, and a great grandson, Dominique Ennis.
  Paul is survived by his wife, Myrtle Felkner of Centerville; son, William Edward Felkner and his wife, Natalie of Centerville; daughters, Barbara Dianne Gardner and her husband, Stephen of Ottumwa and Joan Virginia Felkner of Iowa City; grandchildren, Emily and Kyle Felkner of Centerville, Dianne Ennis and her husband, Rick of Ames and Stephanie Edwards and her husband, Don of Kansas City, Kan.; great- grandchildren, Dakota, Chance, Destany, Zachary and Miles Ennis all of Ames, Chelsea and Andrew Edwards of Texas; one sister, Margaret Tasler of West Des Moines.
  Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church in Centerville with Rev. Gene Kubli and Rev. William Ballard officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Felkner Cemetery west of Center ville.
  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Oct, 24, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, then moved to the Faith United Methodist Church for a family visitation from 6 to 8 p.m.
  Memorials can be made to the Felkner Cemetery or to the Faith United Methodist Church's Sunday School Rooms and can be left at the funeral home. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Centerville is caring for the Felkner family at this time and condolences can be sent at:`Schmidtfamilyfuneralhome.com