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.
