Obituary of Paul Wilmer Ficken

Paul Ficken, 92, of rural Melbourne, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2015, at Grandview Heights Nursing and Rehab Center in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 8, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John United Church of Christ in Melbourne with Pastor Judy Brandon officiating. Burial will be in the Melbourne Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 7, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to St. John United Church of Christ in Melbourne or to the International FOXG1 Foundation (www.foxg1.com), which provides research and support for persons diagnosed with FOXG1 Syndrome, a severe neurological condition affecting Paul’s great-granddaughter, Bronwyn. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Paul and his family. For condolences or questions, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or phone 641-844-1234.
Paul Wilmer Ficken was born on March 27, 1923, on a farm near Rhodes, Iowa. He was the son of Arthur and Bertha (Probst) Ficken and attended school in State Center. Paul served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. He was a member of the 28th Airborne Tank Battalion with overseas duty in the Philippines. On September 4, 1946, Paul was united in marriage to Pearl Bollenbacher, daughter of Albert and Ida (Klatt) Bollenbacher, at St. John Evangelical and Reformed Church in Melbourne. Together they farmed southeast of Melbourne on land owned and farmed by her family since 1924.
Paul had been a member of St. John United Church of Christ since 1944 and was among those who helped build the present church, dedicated in 1952. He served on various church committees through the years, helping with the children’s after-school program until age 90. He was a member of the Melbourne 50-Plus Club. He worked as a volunteer in numerous settings, including Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, the Marshall County Emergency Food Box, and the Melbourne area Helping Hands program. In 2006, Paul received a Certificate of Recognition for his years of community service from Thomas J. Vilsack, Governor of Iowa. Paul also enjoyed spending time and traveling with his family.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Judy Nanke of Marshalltown and Paula (John) Kyburz of Des Moines, and son Don (Christine) Ficken of Panaca, Nevada. Also, grandchildren Kristin (Adam) Haar of Johnston; Kimberly (Brian) Abels of Roland; Kenneth (Jody) Kyburz of Pleasant Grove, Utah; Jeremy Kyburz of Urbandale; James Ficken of St. George, Utah; Christy (Michael) Cheney of Cedar City, Utah; Michael (Megan) Ficken of St. George, Utah; Jennifer (Jared) Beasley of St. George, Utah; and Julie (Wil) Keller of LaVerkin, Utah. In addition, great-grandchildren, Bronwyn Haar; Madison and Mason Abels; Barbara, Courtney, Jason, Rachel, Alexander, and Matthew Cheney; Michael McCoy Ficken; and Emily Miller. Also, brothers Ervin (Anna) Ficken of Melbourne and Ralph (Wilma) Ficken of Newton; sister Dorothy Morris of Shellsburg; and sister-in-law Kathrene Ficken of Springfield, Missouri.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife Pearl in 1989, parents Arthur and Bertha Ficken, brothers Floyd and Earl Ficken, sisters Delores Carnes and Lavon Alexander, and son-in-law Robert Nanke.