PAULY, William Nicholas "Bill"

PAULY, William Nicholas "Bill" (Davenport, IA, Apr. 20, 1942--Asbury, IA, Feb. 15, 2021) The son of CN “Nick” and Ruth E Pauly who family moved with their family to Dubuque, Bill attended Sacred Heart, LORAS ACADEMY, and was in the first graduating class at WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. He graduated from LORAS COLLEGE in 1964 and received his MA degree from the University of Notre Dame. On July 19, 1974 Bill married Deborah “Deb” Ginter.

Bill taught at St. Procopious Academy in Lisle, IL, St. Joseph Grade School in Bellevue, and Marquette High School in Bellevue. While in the Peace Corps, he taught for two years in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Eventually, he made his way back home to the English Department at Loras College where he taught for twenty-five years. Bill once wrote, “I have always been and will always be a teacher, however and whenever and wherever possible.” (1)

One of the traditions Pauly maintained as a teacher who hosting the last class of the semester at the home he shared with his wife, Deb. At the end of the one semester, a blizzard led to the class being canceled. As the couple accepted the conditions and prepared for a quiet night at home sounds of caroling were heard outside. Pauly's class had braved the snow to come to his home. Class was held in front of a fire before a meal was served. The class left again singing carols on their way to their cars. (2)

He began writing poetry as a teenager and did not stop until the last few weeks of his life. He loved sharing his joy of writing with his students and that shared joy created wonderful bonds between them. His most loved form of poetry was Haiku. Bill won the Harold G. Henderson Memorial Award from the Haiku Society of America in 1981,1983 and 1991. His last submission was published in the Winter 2021 issue of Mayfly. (3) On December 18, 2021 the publication of his final book of poetry, Walking Uneven Ground, was celebrated with friends, colleagues, and students. (4)

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Source:

1. Obituary, Online: https://www.hskfhcares.com/obituaries/William-Nicholas-Bill-Pauly?obId=19993428

2. London, Michelle, "Magical," Telegraph Herald, December 10, 2021, p. 7A

3. Obituary

4. London