Dr. Dean Duane Paulsen, age 64 of Alexandria, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at his home following an extended illness.  He was born February 18, 1954 in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Erwin William and Marlys (Sorensen) Paulsen.  He was a 1972 graduate of Orange High School in California.  He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Redlands and later graduated from Medical School at St. Louis University where he received his Doctorate Degree in medicine.  Dean worked for several years in Michigan before establishing OB/GYN practices with Community Hospital in Madison County.  It is estimated that Dr. Paulsen delivered more than 8,000 babies in Madison County before retiring in 2015 after 27 years of local practice.  Dean married Loretta Jean "Lori" Hankley on March 26, 1994, and they shared more than 24 years of marriage together.

Dean was a devoted Christian and was a member of the East Side Church of God in Anderson.  He was active in the Emmaus Community where he served as a Team Leader for numerous walks, and he also enjoyed bible studies very much.  Dean served on several mission trips to the Chimala Hospital in Tanzania to help families who desperately needed medical care.  In his free time, he liked nothing more than taking long rides on his Honda motorcycle.  He also enjoyed traveling with all his family and especially loved spending time with his beloved grandchildren.  Dean will be greatly missed, but his family finds comfort knowing he is in his Heavenly home.

Dean's family includes his wife, Loretta Jean "Lori" Paulsen of Alexandria; 3 children, Adam (wife Gennifer) Paulsen of Dexter, MI, Sarah (husband Greg) Sneed of New Albany, OH, and Matthew Paulsen of Glendale, CA; 2 step-children, Heather Galan of Kearney, MO, and David (wife Michelle) Crammer of New Berlin, WI; 3 sisters, Diane (husband Jeff) Weber of Orange, CA, Donna (husband Michael) Hyslop of Orange, CA, and Lynn Paulsen of Shelton, WA; mother and father-in-law, Kay and Max Hankley of Sebring, FL; sister-in-law, Shelley (husband Eric) Jameson of Knightstown; 7 grandchildren, Isaac A. Martin, Kendall E. and Kelsey V. Paulsen, William W., Margaret A., and Catherine A. Sneed, and Logan C. Crammer; and several nieces and nephews.  Dean was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dale Paulsen who passed away in 2018.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Dr. Dean Paulsen's will be conducted at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with his good friend, Gary Meeker of the Church of Christ in Anderson, officiating.  Burial will take place at a later date in Sunset Memorial Park in Elwood.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday prior to the memorial service at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home.   Memorial contributions are suggested to IHCF (International Health and Care Foundation) through the funeral home.  Online expressions of condolence may be made at copherfeslermay.com.