Paul J. Siefken

Born August 24,1937 to Lawrence and Ida (Eversman) Siefken of Sperry Iowa. He spent his childhood with his siblings working on the family farm, attending Sperry School, and graduating in 1956. He then had 6 months active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood, summer camp in Wisconsin, and weekly meetings and reserves after. From there, he went on to pursue a Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Allied Institute of Technology in Chicago, graduating in 1960. He married Patricia (O’Donnell) on December 31, 1960. They packed up and followed their dream out West to Colorado, where they started their family while Paul worked at Dow Chemical. They eventually returned to Clarinda, Iowa, and then eventually to Burlington, where he worked with J.I. Case Company. He moved his family to Dardenne, a small farming community West of St. Louis, in 1969. He continued to work various jobs in the field, which gave him the background and the confidence to start his own consulting firm, Pauly Engineering, in 1983. He worked with various clients, both locally and in the U.K. until his retirement. His expertise allowed him to take machines from concept to blueprint design to finished operational machine. His name appears on at least one patent for his work. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Dardenne and enjoyed working at the church socials. He was also a member of The Knights of Columbus, where he enjoyed fellowship, playing in a horseshoe league, and running a Euchre tournament with Patty. He spent time working with the Boy Scouts--hiking, camping, and serving on the Committee for Troop 855. He enjoyed coaching softball at the local ballpark for several seasons and was always ready to pitch and assist where he could on annual science projects. He spent many vacations packing up the station wagon and camper and setting the compass to out West, which continued well into retirement.

He is survived by his wife Patricia (O’Donnell) to whom he was married for 63 years. His son Bernard (Jody), Step-Grandson Justin (Jamie, Madison, Tyler), Step-Granddaughter Nicole (Tom, Isaiah, Elijah), daughter Julie Robertson (Mark), Granddaughter Beth Morrison (Bret, Zaya), Step-Grandson Darryn (Janaye, Raelynn, Emmett), Step-Grandson Vince (Sara), and son Brad. He is survived by sister Louise McNamee (John), brother Gerald (Bette Lou), and brother Norman (Barb). He is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Ida Siefken, sisters Rita (Sister Ancilla) and Lois, and a great grand-daughter Hailey.

Services will be held on Monday April 8 at Immaculate Conception Chapel in Dardenne. Visitation begins at 9:30, followed by mass at 10:30. Burial at the Columbarium at the church cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church hall.