Obituary of Marjorie Taylor Paulsen

    Marjorie Marie Taylor Paulsen was born June 13, 1928 at Sanborn, IA to William and Lillie (Meier) Menning. She was baptized July 13, 1928, and confirmed May 28, 1944 (Matthew 28:20 “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”). She graduated from Sanborn High School in 1946, attended and graduated with a teaching degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, IA. Marjorie taught 3rd grade at Primghar, IA from 1947-1951. She was married to Lynford Taylor on October 7, 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sanborn where she was a member from birth until later in life when she moved into Hartley and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Marge and Lynford began their married life farming in rural Hartley. They were parents to three children: Kevin, Sheri, and Steve. In 1970 they moved to the family farm near Hartley. Lynford passed away in April 1986 and Marge moved to Hartley in May 1987. She married Lester Paulsen June of 1988. Lester passed away December 2007. Marge moved to Hartley Assisted Living in May of 2006 and then to Prairie View in Sanborn in May of 2010 where she lived until her passing.

    Marge is survived by her children: Kevin and Cathi Taylor, Ida Grove, IA, Sheri and John Nixon, Oak Island, NC, Steve and Cheryl Taylor, Polk City, IA, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Kristopher (Angela) Taylor and Kaleb, Aubrey and Kayson, Kelley (Kirk) Haaland and Hannah, Hayley, and Kinley, Kimberley (Adam) Babbitt and Kayden, Brendan, and Adrian, Cayla Taylor, Caitie Taylor, Joy (Jon) Larson and Carver and Madison, Travis (Hannah) Taylor and Mason and Lincoln, Valorie (Casey) Dorhout, and Tyler Nixon. Marge is also survived by loving sisters Ruth (Jim) Hanno and Glenda Visser, brother Richard (Judy) Menning, and sister-in-law Joan Taylor; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by husbands Lynford Taylor and Lester Paulsen, her parents William and Lillie Menning, father and mother-in-law, Orville and Mearl Taylor, her sister Dorothy Celak; brothers-in-law Quentin Taylor, Gaylord Taylor, Ellwood “Woody” Klever, Marvin “Spud” Visser, sister-in-law Luella Taylor; two nephews and one niece.

    Marge loved and enjoyed her family, children, grandchildren, and lifelong friends. She loved her farm and garden lifestyle, ballroom dancing, playing cards and the Birthday Bunch, cooking, baking wonderful breads and buns, and making delicious pies and jams. She loved to read books to and play games with her grandkids. They will remember always grandma’s angel food birthday cakes, cookies, buns and Christmas stockings. Loving her church, she taught Sunday school and served her church in a variety of ways throughout her life. Marge had a talent and passion for sewing. She made dozens of quilts and other handmade gifts for all her family including helping to make quilts for World Relief Missions. She was strong in her faith and this favorite writing of hers was found: “God comforts us in this time of sorrow with His promises. ‘He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live’ God sends us trials of faith so we will find out how much we need Jesus. Jesus paid for our sins so we would be forgiven and have life”. 

    She clung to a favorite scripture, especially at the loss of her husband Lynford:  I Thessalonians 5:16-18 which reads, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”.