Paul W. Stephenson

March 10, 1931 - August 15, 2020

Paul Stephenson, 89, of Fort Dodge, died Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Gunderson Funeral Chapel. Interment and military honors will be held in Cedar Cemetery, Rinard. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, with a vigil service at 6:45 p.m. Friday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Paul Warren Stephenson was born March 10, 1931 in Rinard, Iowa. He graduated in 1948 from Lorhville High School and attended Buena Vista in Storm Lake. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving from 1951 – 1954. Upon returning from service he graduated from University of Iowa in 1956. Paul was married to Jill Horner and to this union they were blessed with two children. The couple later divorced. Paul worked for his brother Dan and in 1971 they partnered to establish Stephenson Insurance. Paul actively sold insurance for 55 years, retiring in 2012 from O’Connor Insurance at the age of 81. For over 60 years Paul was very civic and community minded; he was a 1959 charter member of the Fort Dodge Sertoma Club and just two weeks prior to his death resigned as a board member for the Beacon of Hope. Paul enjoyed the game of golf nearly daily at the Fort Dodge Country Club for years. Survivors include his children Bill (Lisa) Stephenson of Manson and Michelle Stephenson of Fort Dodge; 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his special companion of over 20 years Gayle Lawson, his parents Ethel (Watson) and M. Blair Stephenson and his brother Daniel Stephenson. Memorials may be directed towards the Beacon of Hope.