Paul Charles Calhoun

Paul C. Calhoun, 85, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, August 31, 2013 at a local care facility. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at Grace United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at a later date at the Austinville Cemetery in Austinville, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of the Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Paul was born December 22, 1927 in Austinville, Iowa, the third son in a family of four brothers to Chester and Emma (Voss) Calhoun. Paul graduated from Freeport High School. He married Katherine Deaver on January 10th, 1948 at the First Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. To this union, three children were born. When he was 15 years old, Paul went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad as a telegraph operator. He worked for the railroad for 40 years before retiring in Sioux City as the agent yard master. At the age of 17, Paul took his first flying lesson and continued that passion for flying, often giving his relatives and friends their first ride in a small plane. Paul and Katherine loved to travel, seeing all 50 states, and trips abroad to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Panama, Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Paul was also a member of the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol, President of the Dispatcher Union in Chicago, Order of Railroad Telegraphers (ORT), and the Morse Telegraph Club. Because of the railroad, the family had to move quite frequently, but Paul stayed active in whichever current church he attended. Paul is survived by his wife Katherine; three children: George (Michelle) Calhoun of Ayer, MA, Anne (William) Smith of Aurelia, IA, and Charles "Chaz" (Jean) Calhoun of Tomah, WI; five grandchildren: Carl H. (Esther) Calhoun, Weston R. (Anna) Smith, Alissa Smith, Paul H. Calhoun, and Beckett Smith; and a brother Philip Calhoun of Rockford, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: George and Thomas Calhoun.