Lorene Paul

Lorene Paul, 89, of Hamilton, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 12:50 PM
in Hamilton at the home of her loving caregiver, Janet Johnson.
Lorene was born October 14, 1936, at home in Basco, Illinois, the daughter of Clarence
and Myrtle (Trautvetter) Koehler. She attended Warsaw High School graduating in 1954
and then went on to receive her Nursing Degree from Blessing School of Nursing in
1957. On May 5, 1956, she was united in marriage to Ronald Paul at the Bethlehem
United Church of Christ in Sutter. He survives. Lorene had worked as a Registered
Nurse at Blessing Hospital in Quincy for a time before moving to be with her husband
who was in the Airforce. She then worked in a small hospital in Maryland until they
moved back home. Once back in the area she worked at Graham Hospital in Keokuk
which later became Keokuk Area Hospital. She retired from there in 1999. She was an
excellent nurse and a great role model to many in the years that she worked. Lorene
was a genuinely kind and loving wife, mother, and grandmother and saw the best in
everyone. She will be deeply missed by her family.
Lorene was a lifelong member of the Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Sutter and
also attended the Church of Christ in Kahoka when she and Ron lived there. She
enjoyed staying active in Bridge Club, the Young Mother’s Club of Hamilton and
Tuesday Club (which sometimes met on Wednesday as they would say) in Kahoka.
Besides Bridge, she loved traveling, going to Texas, playing the piano, and watching or
listening to the St Louis Cardinals whenever she could. She especially enjoyed and
loved her grandchildren and attended her grandchildren’s events whenever possible.
Lorene is survived by her husband, Ronald, of Hamilton; her daughter, Debbie Donahue
of Hamilton; grandsons, Brandon (Michele) Shoen, Andrew (Stephanie) Shoen and Joe
(Bailey) Donahue; great grandsons, Trent Shoen, Caleb Shoen, Calvin Shoen, Conor
Donahue and Rhys Donahue; great granddaughter, Olive Donahue; her sister Linda
(Steve) Rhoades; nephews, Geoff (Jen) Rhoades, Justin (Lindsay) Rhoades and Ben
Rhoades; great nephews, Cooper and Cade Rhoades; and her devoted care giver for
several years, Janet Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a great grandson, Reid Pfeiferling; and her
brother, Kenneth Koehler.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the
Bethlehem United Church of Christ near Sutter with burial to follow in Oakwood
Cemetery in Hamilton. Visitation will be held from noon until time of services at 1:00 PM
at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Bethlehem United Church of Christ or

the Alzheimer’s Association. Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of
arrangements.