Paul Ellsworth David, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, February 2, 2021 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.
Paul was born April 7, 1941 in Holdrege, Nebraska. He was one of thirteen children born to Everett and Retha B. (Geer) David. He grew up in Holdrege and Phelps County, Nebraska and graduated from Loomis High School in the Class of 1958.
Paul served his country in the U.S. Army as Military Police at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After his service was completed, he lived in Denver, Colorado a few years before moving to Loomis, NE to work on the family farm.
Paul was united in marriage to Patricia Marie Stranberg on June 14, 1969 in Hamilton County, Nebraska. This union was blessed with four children: Penny, Paula, Pepper and Preston. They made their home in Holdrege, Minden, Stromsburg, and Osceola, Nebraska before moving to Long Island, Kansas. After his retirement they moved to Russell in 2008, to be closer to children and grandchildren.
Paul was a farmer. While he worked many other jobs from tire repair to aviation parts manufacturing, his heart was on the farm. He spent his last 20+ working years in the employ of Valley View Farms doing what he loved. He was a member of the Russell American Legion Post #99 and the Osceola, Nebraska Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed politics, coin collecting, and taking care of his yard and garden. His family, his wife, children and grandchildren, were the most important part of his life.
Paul’s surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Patricia of the home; two daughters, Penny Davis (Tim) of Hays, Kansas and Paula North (Heath) of McCracken, Kansas; two sons, Pepper David (Connie) of Topeka, Kansas and Preston David of Norton, Kansas; four brothers, Dwayne David (Donna) of Newark, Ohio, Johnnie David (Harriett) of Longmont, Colorado, Larry David (Cindy) of Stromsburg, Nebraska and Michael David (Trish) of Holdrege, Nebraska; five sisters, Elaine Schell of Holdrege, Nebraska, Bonita Sturgis (Evert) of Axtell, Nebraska, Mary Johnson (Edward) of Alma, Missouri, Retha Jo Luttrell of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Peggy Piepenbrock (Eric) of Phoenix, Arizona. He also leaves nine dearly loved grandchildren, Brandon North, Alex Davis, Sydney Davis, Logan North, Reid David, Carson North, Chase David, Peyton David and Conner David.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Richard David, Ronald David, and Roger David.
A Memorial Service will be held at Congregational Church in Almena, Kansas on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 11:00am. Cremation has taken place and no visitation will be held. A private family service will be held at Bainbridge Cemetery in Harlan County, Nebraska. A Memorial has been established with the Roy C. Goodrich American Legion Post #304 in Long Island, Kansas. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell, Kansas 67665, who oversees these arrangements.