Leonard Irving Paulson

He was born in Ames, Iowa on April 3rd, 1931. He attended school in Ames, including one year at Iowa State University. He then served three and a half years in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a base newspaper editor in Japan during the Korean conflict. After his service, he entered St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and graduated in 1958 with his BA in Economics.

He met his wife, Corrine Ann Crawford, at St. Olaf and they were married on September 1, 1957. They had three daughters; Camille Rittmueller of Phoenix, AZ, Janelle Parker of Guntersville, AL and Jeanie Adamson of Dallas, TX.

Len had a long career in the financial industry including thirty years in commercial banking and ten years in the credit union industry. He started as a bank examiner and successfully became President and CEO of many small banks and credit unions in Colorado and Wyoming.He capped his career by becoming a "turnaround specialist" for struggling credit unions.

He was an avid athlete and played baseball as a pitcher at St. Olaf College. He turned his focus toward tennis in 1970 and played continuously until 5 months prior to his death.He enjoyed competing in tennis tournaments as a singles and doubles player in multiple states throughout the west and southwest. He achieved the USTA ranking of number 7 in the United States in is eighties.

As a lifetime Christian, Len served on many church committees and councils, and enjoyed singing in choirs and spearheading special projects. Big band or classical music was always playing in his home, and he loved attending live theatre. He enjoyed reading western novels, watching old western movies, and dining out. He never failed to ask the server for pecan pie for dessert. Len wanted mostly to be remembered as someone who loved to help people.

Len is survived by his three daughters, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Corrine; his parents, Louise and Melvin Paulson; brothers Ralph, Rodney and Roland Paulson and sister Gertrude Paulson Armstrong.

A memorial service will be held at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church on January 13th at 1:30 pm. Memorial donations may be made to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children`s hospital and research center.