Robert 'Bob' Paulson, 92, of Crystal Lake; WWII Veteran

Robert “Bob” Paulson, 92, of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, in Woodstock at JourneyCare Hospice. 

Bob was born Oct. 1, 1921, in Minneapolis, Minn. to the late Edwin and Ellen (nee Carlson) Paulson. He married Gladys Johnson on March 26, 1944. 

Mr. Paulson enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve at age 15 and was honorably discharged just prior to WWII. During the War, he enlisted in the US Army and was a proud member of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles.” 

A product of the Great Depression, Bob developed a strong work ethic and a deep desire to become self-employed.

Post WWII, he graduated from the California Plastic Institute and returned to Chicago to open a specialty plastic manufacturing company. Over his career, he also owned and operated Perimeter Heating and Ventilating (Grayslake, 1953-1974) and Cur-Ric Petroleum and Gas Corp—a petroleum exploration company located in Muskogee, OK.

Mr. Paulson was also an inventor and holds three, unrelated product patents. 

Bob retired to Las Vegas in 1982 and later returned to Crystal Lake. 

Mr. Paulson is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gladys Paulson of Crystal Lake; sons, Curtis (Maureen) Paulson and Richard (Robin) Paulson of Crystal Lake; grandchildren, Robert (Emily) Paulson II of Lone Tree, CO, Jeffrey (Becky) Paulson of Woodstock, Erica (Rob) Zarnstorff of Woodstock, and Nicole (Edwin) Chalira of Crystal Lake; great-grandchildren, Lily and Brody Paulson, Easton Paulson, Madelynne and Clara Zarnstorff, and Tadala Chalira; sister, Beatrice Reiter of Chicago; and brother, Edwin Paulson of Aberdeen, MD. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a brother, and a granddaughter. 

A private memorial gathering to celebrate his life has been planned. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bob’s name may be made to JourneyCare Foundation, 405 Lake Zurich Rd., Barrington, IL 60010, www.journeycare.org, 224-770-2413.