Dale Louis Paulsen

February 3, 1937 - May 9, 2026

Dale Louis Paulsen, age 89, of Dubuque, Iowa, formerly of East Dubuque, IL, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Finley Hospital in Dubuque from a sudden illness. He was born on February 3, 1937, in Bellevue, Iowa, the son of loving parents, Harry and Berneda (Feltes) Paulsen who preceded him in death.

Dale proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959—and he often said he’d be ready to serve again, even just two weeks ago. After his service, he began a long and industrious career at John Deere while also building his own company, Paulsen Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.. Never one to sit still, Dale later opened The Old Farmhouse in East Dubuque, Illinois, where he refurbished, displayed, and sold his collection of antique pedal tractors and farm toys.

A true tinkerer and inventor, Dale spent countless hours creating and patenting new ideas—some successful, some just good stories. He once invested heavily in a water-saving invention, only to find out the “minimum water usage” was never meant to begin with, saving them nothing, but he always laughed about it.

Dale loved the Mississippi River, where he was known as Digger, and the people who made time there so special. He was known for his stories, his love of John Deere machinery, and his ever-present Marine Corps hat or shirt—a proud reflection of two lifelong passions.

Dale is survived by five children which are from his marriage to Benay Brys-: Michael (Tina) Paulsen, of East Dubuque, IL, Cynthia Kirch-Henderson (Kent), San Tan Valley, AZ; Dale Paulsen, Jr, of Dubuque, IA; Bryan (Linda) Paulsen, of Cuba City, WI. Sherri Kubly, of Dubuque, IA. He is also survived by his special friend Agnes Steffensmeier, of Dyersville, IA; nine grandchildren—Jonathan Paulsen, Shannon Paulsen, Justin Kirch, Tonya Bowman, Joseph Paulsen, Leta Hageman, Bailey Paulsen, Jesse Hansel, and Mitchell Helle—and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving him are his brother, Robert Paulsen, of Bellevue, IA; niece, Lisa Schroeder; and nephew, Marc Paulsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, wife, Marie Motsch Pausen; sister-in-law LeMay Paulsen; and son-in-law, Kevin Kubly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 11:00 -2:00 p.m. at Off Shore Event Center, Bellevue, IA. Graveside services with military honors conducted by the Dubuque Marine Corps League will follow on July 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the East Dubuque Cemetery.

Dale lived his life with energy, humor, and heart. He never lost his curiosity, his work ethic, or his love of conversation—and those who knew him will forever remember his laugh, his stories, and his deep pride in his family, his service, and his community. He also had a sweet tradition of handing out Hershey's Kisses to anyone lucky enough to be around him, sharing a little kindness everywhere he went.

The Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque, IL is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com©