Howard Paskach

Tuesday, March 1, 2016 3:34 pm

Howard Benjamin Paskach, 90, of Decorah, returned to his heavenly home Feb. 24, 2016. Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 4, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Burial is in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and Friday beginning at 9:30 a.m., one hour before the service, at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Howard was born on Sept. 8, 1925, in Omaha, Neb. to Benjamin and Mae (McCarron) Paskach. He graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Omaha in 1943. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and his service included an assignment at Tacloban in the Philippines after General MacArthur’s return in 1944. After the war, Howard returned to Omaha and attended the University of Omaha on the GI Bill, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1949. Howard met the love of his life, Betty Ramsbottom, in 1948 at the Omaha Walking Club. They were married June 25, 1949, at St. John’s on the Creighton University campus. After working in sales for a time, Howard joined Peoples Natural Gas in 1953, and in 1957 moved his growing family to Manchester, after a promotion to manager. Howard worked with Peoples Natural Gas for 37 years, moving to various management positions in communities in Iowa and Minnesota. The family moved to Decorah in 1976, when Howard became division manager for Northeast Iowa. Howard retired from Peoples Natural Gas in 1990, and he and Betty remained in Decorah after their retirement. Howard was active in St. Benedict’s Parish and the Decorah community throughout his time here. He was a member of the Decorah Lions Club and Knights of Columbus. Other volunteer activities included the Senior Corps of Retired Executives, Decorah Reads Program and the Vesterheim Museum. Howard lived his faith through his vocations as husband and father. He and Betty raised nine children, and their union was further blessed with 31 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Howard is survived by his nine children: Janet, and husband Mark, Giere of Longwood, Fla.; Christopher, and wife Sondra, Paskach of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Stephen, and wife Denise, Paskach of Plymouth, Minn.; David, and wife Kyong Ae, Paskach of Cottonwood, Minn.; Gail, and husband Mark, Boschult of Elkhorn, Neb.; Carol, and husband Thomas, Bockhaus of Urbandale; Richard, and wife Julianne, Paskach of Delano, Minn.; Ronald, and wife Lisa, Paskach of Des Moines; and Thomas, and wife Jeanne, Paskach of Ames; 31 grandchildren: Kristen Giere, Brendan Paskach, Jackie McMullen, Greta Pechter, Christopher (Mary Ann) Paskach, Kelly (Matt) Bollis, Claire Paskach, Evan (Audrey) Paskach, Sean (Miranda) Paskach, Joseph Paskach, Jeffrey Paskach, Dr. Grant (Alex) Boschult, Daniel Boschult, Katy Bockhaus, Abby (Josh) Maher, Jonathon Bockhaus, Lauren Bockhaus, Dominic Paskach, Cole Paskach, Dmitri Paskach, Elizabeth Paskach, Michaela Paskach, Gabriella Paskach, Sarah Paskach, Zachary Paskach, Joshua Paskach, Lucas Paskach, Dagney Paskach, Nathan Paskach, Eric Paskach, and Ryan Paskach; and five great grandchildren: Carson Paskach, Cecelia Paskach and Maxwell Paskach, Ellie and Isaac McMullen.

Howard was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty, Nov. 16, 1998; brother Bob; sister Mary Ellen; and two grandchildren, Steven Giere and Benjamin Boschult.

Howard will be remembered for his enthusiastic and optimistic spirit, his great sense of humor and his never-ending energy. His pride in his family was boundless. He encouraged and taught his children and grandchildren in all aspects of life and love. He will be dearly missed by family and friends alike.

Memorials have been established for WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101; St. Benedict’s School, c/o St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101 and Decorah Lions Club, c/o Hacker, Nelson & Co.,123 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101.