Paul A. Siedenburg

Paul was born October 17, 1924 in Savanna, Illinois, the third son of William H. and Ida M. Siedenburg. He passed away October 13, 2011 at home.

Paul accepted Christ into his life at an early age in Savanna, Illinois, establishing a faith that would impact the direction he would take throughout life. A member of The Gideons International and a long-time member of First Federated Church, Paul believed that unless you have the faith of a small child, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Following graduation from Savanna High School he enrolled in Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana. It was 1942, World War II was on and when the U.S. Army Air Corps offered him the opportunity to enter the Pilot Aviation Cadet Program, he jumped at the chance because he had always wanted to fly. After ten months, three months past his nineteenth birthday, he graduated with his 2nd Lt. Commission and his Silver Wings. He was sent directly to Flight Instructors School at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. Three months later he was sent to Independence Army Airfield, Independence, Kansas where he instructed Aviation Cadets for eleven months. He was sent to Aircraft Commanders School for Martin Marauder B-26 twin engine bombers and from there to Aircraft Commanders School for B-24 four engine bomber training. The war ended as he completed that course and he was discharged shortly after but remained an active member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve for twenty eight years retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

He joined the Iowa Farm Bureau Insurance Companies in 1949 and began his climb up the organizational ladder.

In 1954, he married Virginia M. Bruhn in Cedar Falls, Iowa and three children were born to this union: Douglas, David and Connie. Paul and Virginia made their home in Des Moines in 1956. In 1969 Virginia died after a long illness.

In 1970, he was appointed Vice President-Marketing for the Company's multistate operation and held that position until his retirement in 1985. During that time he did extensive speaking to groups in the insurance industry and served on the Life Insurance Marketing Research Association’s, (LIMRA), Board of Directors. In recognition of his success with his company and his work in the industry he was inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame in 2007.

On January 29, 1997, Paul married Minnette M. Marmon, adding to his family her four children, Bradley, Linnette, Angela and Ricky.

Over the years, he was able to utilize his flying abilities by flying company planes to his many meetings and charter flying after retirement. During the sixty four years between 1943 and 2007, he amassed eight thousand hours of pilot time in thirty different types of aircraft without an accident. As a result, the Federal Aviation Agency awarded him the prestigious award of Master Pilot in 2009. He never thought he was the best pilot but always wanted to be one of the safest.

His primary purpose in life, however, was to raise his three children to love God, be successful parents and good citizens and to teach their children to do the same.

Left to cherish Paul's memory are his wife, Minnette; children Douglas (Julie), David (Dina), and Connie (Allan) Voorhees; seven grandchildren: Joel, Daniel, Ryan, Rachel, Eric, Jordan, and Taylor; Minnette's children; Bradley Norman (Paula), Linnette Lee, Angela Lia (Chris), Ricky Jay (Kim) and grandchildren: Michael, Dusty, Brent, Margarite, Nicholas, Nathan, Moriah, Kaylie and Koby. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Virginia and brothers Loyal and Alvin. He is survived by his brother, George of Savanna, IL and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at First Federated Church, 4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be directed to Gideons International or Iowa Health Home Hospice.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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