Avis Pauling Obituary

A funeral service for Avis Pauling, age 95, will be held at 11 am, Friday, July 11, 2025, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Lake Park. Interment will be at Union Cemetery in Harris. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home.

Avis Darlene Pauling, age 95, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa.

Avis was born on October 10, 1929, in Gary, South Dakota, to Ray and Nettie (Jibben) Moeller. She graduated from Harris High School in 1947 and was united in marriage to Melvin Pauling on December 5, 1948. Together they were blessed with three children: Terry, Annetta, and Barb.

After Melvin’s passing in 1968, Avis returned to school to support her family. She graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College Nursing Program in 1972 as an LPN. Avis devoted many years to caring for others, working as an aide and OB nurse at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital, followed by 19 years at Hilltop Care Center. Later, she worked with a local cleaning service and at the Furniture Mart. Even in her retirement, Avis continued to serve others through volunteer work at the hospital.

A cancer survivor for over three decades, Avis faced life’s challenges with strength and resilience. She was a long-time and faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa, before moving to assisted living in Spencer.

Avis is remembered by her children: Terry Pauling (Carolyn) of Indianola, Iowa, Annetta Zaiser (Marlin) of Lake Park, Iowa and Barb Bohm (Marty) of Estherville, Iowa. She is also survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Nettie Moeller; husband, Melvin; brother, Jerry Moeller; and sister, Iona Van Dyke.