Paul J. Goodman

Funeral services for Paul J. Goodman, 96, will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 6, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Norfolk.  Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.  Military honors will be conducted by the Navy Honor Guard, American Legion Post 16 and VFW Post 1644.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Home for Funerals on Norfolk Avenue.

Paul passed away on his birthday, June 28, 2019 at Homestead Assisted Living of Norfolk.

Paul Joseph was born on June 28, 1923 in Anthon, Iowa to his parents, Oscar and Ella (Petersen) Goodman.  He graduated from Anthon High School.  In August, 1942, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Signalman 2nd Class Petty Officer on the USS Wichita heavy cruiser.  He was aboard ship when they landed George S. Patton’s troops at Casablanca in North Africa and then served in the South Pacific and the Bering Sea near the Aleutian Islands during World War II.  He was part of fourteen major engagements and lost the hearing in his left ear while aboard ship.

He married Darlyne Schulze at the Meadow Grove Methodist Church on February 4, 1945.  Shortly after their wedding, they lived in San Diego to await Paul’s discharge from the Navy in September, 1945.  Early in 1946, the couple moved to Norfolk, became members of the Norfolk First Methodist Church, built a small basement house, and began their family.

After moving to Norfolk, Paul worked for the U.S. Post Office, owned and operated Goodman’s Mobil Service Station, sold health & life insurance for Bankers Life Insurance Company, and was a general agent for Guarantee Mutual Life Insurance Company.  He proudly earned his CLU designation.  In his retirement years, he was on the Board of Directors and worked to promote fundraising for the Northeast Community College Foundation.

Paul and Darlyne were active square dancers for 60 years, began dancing with the 49er’s club in 1949, served as president of the Nebraska State Square Dance Association and were instrumental in bringing the state convention to Norfolk.  They enjoyed teaching square dancing to youth groups and adults throughout the years and Paul was especially helpful to anyone who was interested in becoming a square dance caller.  They enjoyed dancing in several states, especially in Colorado at Estes Park.

He enjoyed seeing and talking to anyone he would meet.  He was a member of the Norfolk Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow, was an avid golfer and took great pride in taking on golfers twenty years younger and even beating them with or without considering his handicap, and was a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.  The couple enjoyed the dinner dances at the Norfolk Country Club and always looked forward to getting together with special friends for their Friday night card games of 10-point pitch or dominoes.

Paul is survived by sons Scott Goodman of Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Greg Goodman of Norfolk, brothers Benjamin Goodman (99) of Phoenix and Conrad Goodman (85) of Las Vegas, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and siblings Clarence Goodman, Bob Goodman, and Marjorie Jansen.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church in Norfolk or the Norfolk Area Habitat for Humanity.

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