Paul is the oldest of two sons of Willie and Frieda Baumgarten. He attended local public school until the 7th and 8th grade when he attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Confirmation Instructions.

Paul tells of riding his bicycle to and from Immanuel. Other boys were envious of his bicycle and would often trade letting Paul ride their hose (a great treat for Paul) so the boy could ride the bicycle. Lloyd Ernsting in particular liked to do his trade - letting Paul ride an old white horse named Oscar.

Paul graduated from Clarinda (Iowa) High School. He served in the Marines from 1942 to 1945.

He married Betty Kasermann, also of Clarinda. They lived in Clarinda, Shenandoha, Iowa and then back to Clarinda. Paul worked at Lisle Manufactuing Co in Clarinda. He rose to a supervisory capacity by the time of his retirement.

His wife, Betty, died in October 1980. Paul continued to live in the same house, despite the physical problems that plagued him since he had a serious, serious heart attack August 1, 1992. This occurred on the local golf course. He apparently suffered a stroke during his emergency hospitalization.

After extensive rehab, he was able to walk with a cane from then on.

Paul kept the grass mowed at the old home in Bethesda, Iowa. A broken hip in late 2002 caused more difficulty.

He said life was a bit lonely as all of his old colleagues, with whom he played goft even after his disability and continued to have breakfast or lunch together, seem to be checking out of this world. He still had a friendly smile and an up-beat attitude when the writer last visited him in 2001. His health deteriorated and he spent time in a local nursing home before his death June 28, 2004.

[written Mar 12, 2007]