Paul Arens

Memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Prairie Lakes Church in Fort Dodge. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Decker Auditorium of Iowa Central Community College. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services are entrusted with the arrangements.

Paul Jonathon Arens, “PJ,” the youngest son of Raymond and Dolores (Schlesser) Arens, was born June 29, 1975, in Le Mars, Iowa. He graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1994 and from the University of Iowa in 1998. He later earned his Paramedic degree from Kirkwood College. Paul worked at the Spirit Lake Hospital as a paramedic. He met the love of his life Tacey Walburg while at work on Christmas night. The couple married on the planned date of 10/4 in 2008, and they made their home in Fort Dodge. Since 2008, Paul was currently teaching the EMS course at ICCC. He cherished his dogs Kinnick and Oakley. Paul was an avid Hawkeye, Jayhawks and Chiefs fan. The family encourages those attending to wear these teams’ attire to the services.

Survivors include his wife Tacey, his daughter Evelynn, his mother Dolores; his brothers, Richard, Dale (Lynette), Daniel (Debb) and David (Shannon); his mother-in-law Darla Walburg, his in-laws, Lynae (Nate) Otten, Jonathan (Karissa) Walburg, Nathan (Cortney) Walburg, sister-in-law Kay (Jeff) Ritz, his German foreign exchange son Fynn Graenert, numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Raymond and brother Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.