Obituary of Paul E. McNutt

Paul E. McNutt age 90 formerly of rural Iowa City, died at his home in Coralville Thursday, September 9, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 13, 2004 at the First United Methodist church in Iowa City with the Reverend Paul Akin officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Paul’s family wishes to invite everyone to a gathering celebrating Paul’s life on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the home of Paul’s son, Dr. Jim McNutt @ 3021 White Oak Avenue N.E., Iowa City. There will be visitation Monday after 9:30 a.m. until services at the church. Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets around the church, all attending the services are encouraged to park around the church.. Memorial Donations can be made to Johnson County 4-H Program. Online condolences may be sent for Paul’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com Paul E. McNutt was born August 25, 1914, in O’Brien County, Iowa near Archer the son of Homer B. and Alice E. (Halstead) McNutt. Following graduation from Sheldon High School in 1931, he attended junior college and later enrolled at Iowa State University, receiving a degree in Animal Science in 1938. Prior to his marriage, Paul worked for Iowa State Extension in Davenport and then in LeMars where he was the Extension Director. Paul met Mary Kadera while they were students at ISU and on June 1, 1941, they were married at the Methodist Church in West Branch, Iowa. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Core discharged at the rank of First Lieutenant. Paul and Mary returned to Eastern Iowa where for many years they farmed northeast of Iowa City. Their farming operations known at Elmira Farms involved both crop and livestock operations, Paul being known nationwide as a top pork producer. Paul believed in family, farming, and community, being involved in many church, civic and farming organizations, including Farm House Fraternity, First United Methodist Church, Iowa City Noon Rotary, former District Governor of Rotary International, former trustee on the Hoover Library Board, former President of Mercy Hospital Board, former director on the Iowa State Bank and Trust Board, instrumental in the development of the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds, lifelong member of 4-H. He was on the Board of the National Livestock and Meat Association, he was organizer of and President of the Johnson County Pork Producers, the President of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and on the Board of the National Pork Producers Association. Because of his involvement, he has been recognized and received numerous awards including the following: Sheldon (IA) Prairie Museum Hall of Fame, Iowa Master Swine Producer, Iowa Master Farmer, One of the two charter recipients of the Iowa Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Iowa Agriculture Award, National Pork Producers Hall of Fame and the Iowa State University Animal Science Hall of Fame. His family includes his wife of sixty-three years, Mary; sons, Dr James McNutt DVM and his fiancé, Susan Brigham of rural Iowa City; John Paul McNutt and his wife, Ilene Lande also of rural Iowa City; daughter and her husband, Marty and Dale Port of Cedar Falls; ten grandchildren, Raquel and her husband, Josh Malin, Paul Port, Scott Port, A.J. McNutt, Michael McNutt, Ellison McNutt, Alana McNutt, Ashton McNutt, Caroline Brigham and Madison Brigham; one great-granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Malin; brother and his wife, Merle and LaNelle McNutt of Austin, MN; sisters-in-law, Barbara McNutt of Mason City, Evelyn McNutt of St. Angsar, IA and Ruth Raines of Vernon, CT; and a brother-in-law, Frank Gilbert of Rogers, AR. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Millard and Wayne McNutt, and sister-in-law, Jean Gilbert and brother-in-law, Craig Raines. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Paul’s family and his services.