Paul Elmegreen Oct. 19, 1940 – Oct. 27, 2019

Paul Elmegreen, age 79, died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 at University Hospitals, Iowa City following a brief illness. 

A life celebration service was held 11 a.m. Saturday morning, Nov. 2, 2019 at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello where friends called from 4 until 7 Friday. Pastor Mike Martin officiated at the services. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com. 

Paul is survived by his wife, Wanda, two children, James (Harumi Yamaji) of Tokyo, Japan, Jennifer (Tom) Funk of Monticello, five grandchildren, Lydia, Christopher and Esther Funk, Shouma Yamaji Elmegreen and Ayana Yamaji Elmegreen, three siblings, Susan Bader of Eldridge, Jerry ( Judy) Elmegreen and Ronald (Gwen) Elmegreen both of Monmouth. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law Jim Bader. 

Paul Lynn Elmegreen was born Oct. 19, 1940 at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa. He was the son of Arthur and Berneil Baughman, Elmegreen. Paul attended the rural schools near Long Grove and graduated from DeWitt High School in 1959. After high school he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. He returned home and drove a milk truck, then worked at the John Deere Dealership in Eldridge before becoming a mechanic at the Davenport Airport. Paul became a private pilot and then continued on with advanced training and got his commercial pilot’s license. In 1964 he moved to Monticello to be the pilot for David Cuckler. Paul married Wanda Guthardt on Nov. 19, 1965 at Princeton, Iowa. Paul started Monticello Aviation on Nov. 9, 1971 and had been the Airport Manager for over 50 years. He taught many pilots in Eastern Iowa to fly. He was a member of Associated Pilots of Iowa, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the National Air Transportation Association. He always enjoyed the fly-in-breakfast every year at the airport. In January of 2015 Paul was awarded the Monticello Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.