Paul DeVere Branstad

BUFFALO CENTER - Paul D. Branstad, age 89 of Buffalo Center, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at the Timely Mission Care Center in Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Pastor Mark Decker officiating.

Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 PM on Friday, July 9, until the service begins.

Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson with Graveside Military Rites by Thompson VFW Post 8408.

Paul DeVere Branstad was born in Newton Township, Winnebago County, Iowa, on January 5, 1921, the son of Philip A. G. and Lydia (Seikmeier) Branstad. He attended local schools and graduated from Thompson High School in 1939.

He entered the United States Military in 1942. He served in the South Pacific in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. He joined the reserves and was called back into service during the Korean Conflict.

Following his discharge from the military, Paul returned to north Iowa. His deep interest in machinery found him working in local machinery shops. He was very interested in activities at Heritage Park in Forest City and at Forming of Yesteryear near Kiester, Minnesota. He loved spending time with his family and found great joy being around small children.

He resided on the family farm until entering the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center in October of 2003.

Paul is survived by brothers Cliff (Grace) Branstad of Thompson; Donald (Verneil) Branstad of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Glenn Branstad of Bensonville, Illinois. Also surviving are nephews and nieces and a host of friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Doris Lehman, Lorriane Branstad and Julie Burnham.