Paula M. Watson

Paula Watson, 66, of Mt. Carroll, IL, passed away Sunday, January 14, at Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling, IL following a valiant and courageous 3 year battle with cancer.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 27, at St John and Catherine’s Catholic Church in Mt. Carroll, IL. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 26, at the Law Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll, as well as one hour prior to the service at the Church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Carroll District Library, Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling, or the Mt. Carroll Ambulance Association.

Paula was born April 12, 1957, daughter of Robert and Mary (Bellmann) Becker. She was the youngest of six children, and raised in Dubuque, IA. While growing up, Paula and her siblings would spend many hours working at the family grocery store, “Kruse’s,” located in the 2400 block of Central Avenue at the north end of Dubuque. Paula attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Grade School and Dubuque Wahlert High School, graduating with the class of 1975. After high school Paula spent a semester at University of Northern Iowa, before transferring to Loras College, where she graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

Paula began her teaching career in Potosi, WI at Saint Thomas-Andrew Catholic Grade School. After a year, Paula then taught at Nativity BVM Catholic Grade School in Menominee, IL. Following her time in Menominee, she started teaching at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Grade School in Dubuque. She would later teach 2nd grade at Savanna School District where she created a pen pal program with area teachers. She ended her 40 year teaching career with the West Carroll School District as a reading specialist, passing on her love of reading to countless students.

Two lives aligned in April,1989 on a blind date at Timmerman’s Supper Club in East Dubuque, IL, where Paula met the love of her life, Bob Watson. After many dates and many laughs, Paula and Bob married on August 10, 1991 at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Dubuque IA. Together they raised one son and celebrated 32 years of marriage.

At the center of Paula’s life were Bob and Tom, “my guys,” as she called them. Paula’s greatest joy in life was being a mom. She taught her son, and all her family, to give selflessly and care deeply for others. No matter how big or small the life event was, Paula was there cheering on family, friends and loved ones. She loved surprising her family with the perfect gift, often times a book.

When Paula wasn’t teaching or raising her family, she continuously volunteered her time to the community. Paula was an active member of the Mount Carroll District Library Board of Trustees, serving as Vice President for the last few years. She played a key role in the recent renovation and addition of the library and was overjoyed at how the expansion served the community. She was also a member of the Mount Carroll Recreation Committee which oversees operations of the community swimming pool. Paula’s strong Catholic faith was central to her life, and she was an active member of SS John and Catherine, where she was a member of the Parish Council. She was also a member of the Mount Carroll Ministerial Association, helping coordinate the annual Christmas Gift and Food Basket program for the community.

Paula will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Bob Watson of Mt. Carroll; her son, Thomas Watson of Chicago, IL; three siblings, John Becker of Dubuque, Jean Becker of Dubuque, and Mary Kay Panther of Iowa City, IA; sisters-in-law, Peggy Becker of Dubuque, IA and Rosemary Langkamp of Winnetka, IL and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Mary; her sister, Carolyn Seidler; and her brother, Peter Langkamp.