Paul Wille

Paul Wille, 93, of Garnavillo, died peacefully in the company of family, on Oct. 25th, 2012 at the Guttenberg Hospital. Due to illness, Paul had recently moved from Tower Living back to his home in the care of his family. He was able to enjoy his family and friends up until two days before he passed. Paul was born on November 24, 1918, son of Regina (Schaefers) and William Wille. He grew up on farms near Guttenberg and Garnavillo and attended Guttenberg and Garnavillo Catholic schools. During World War II Paul served in the Army in the Pacific and Europe. He married Vergil (Ve) Cook on Feb. 26, 1946 and they had four children. Paul and Ve loved traveling and, particularly after he retired, they traveled to many parts of the U.S. and abroad, often in company of friends and family members. Paul loved his profession as a bricklayer and stone mason, first learning the craft by working with his father and later attending bricklayers school at Ames, Ia. He enjoyed teaching those skills as well. Early in his career he worked for Peterson Construction of Garnavillo, and later he worked many years for Seedorff Masonry of Strawberry Point. Paul served as foreman on numerous large projects. These included Finley and Mercy Hospitals in Dubuque, the hospital at Anamosa, the Garnavillo High School, various schools, post offices, commercial buildings, stonework at Pikes Peak State Park, and many others. The Nativity Church in Dubuque, where he came up with a way to construct a wall of brick angels, was one of the jobs he was most proud of. Paul was in demand for many private jobs building and repairing walls, foundations and chimneys. He did masonry work on many homes, farm buildings and commercial buildings in northeast Iowa. He was well known for his special skills at building stone fireplaces. After his retirement he continued to do private projects and once served as consultant at the University of Kansas at St. Lawrence where problems had arisen that needed his special skills. He also served as a volunteer foreman on several homes sponsored by Habitat for Humanity in Minneapolis. Whenever people in the county ran into problems with do-it -yourself masonry projects they often called in Paul who was always happy to help. Paul was active in community service and organizations. He was a lifelong member of the St. Josephs Catholic Church in Garnavillo and the Knights of Columbus and a member of the American Legion. He served on the Garnavillo School Board for a number of years. He and Ve were among the founding members of the Clayton County Association for Retarded Citizens. Paul was also a charter member of the Guttenberg Community Golf Course where he continued to golf until age 92 at which time he admitted he wasnt much of a golfer anymore, but he still enjoyed getting out on the course. He was an avid card player since childhood, playing (and winning) his final game of Euchre with family members only days before he passed. Paul is survived, and greatly missed, by his daughter Susan Wille & son-in-law Larry Lacterman of Bisbee, Az., grandson Kiva Lacterman of Vancouver B.C., Canada, son William Wille, sisters Georgina (Lynn) Caslavka, Ruth (Ed) Kiefer, Philomena Stewart, and many relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife Ve, son David, daughter Jean and four siblings: Clarissa McLane, Gertrude Clausing, Cecelia Wille and Sylvester Wille. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the G &G Living Centers, St. Joseph Church in Garnavillo or a charity of your choice.Memorial Service: Friday 10:00 A.M. November 02, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church Garnavilllo, IowaVisitation: Thursday 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. November 01, 2012 at the Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home Garnavillo, Iowa and one hour before service at churchInterment: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Garnavillo, Iowa Service Information A service summary is not available