Rodney Chris Paulsen

Rodney Chris Paulsen, 61, of Oshkosh passed away Monday, February 27, 2023 in Scottsbluff.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Scotty Ray officiating.  Burial will follow in the Kowanda Cemetery.

The funeral service will be streamed live via the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals) and available to watch after the service.

Visitation will be held Friday evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh with the family present.

Memorials in Chris’ name can be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Paulsen family.

Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.

Rodney Chris Paulsen was born January 15, 1962, to Rodney J. and Sharon K. Paulsen in Oshkosh, Nebraska.

Rod attended school at District 56 country school on the South Table until 6th grade and completed his education in Oshkosh at GCHS. After graduation, he attended Mid-Plains Community College and graduated with a degree in Construction.

Rod met the love of his life in high school and married Dani Collins in April 1983.  They started their family with Christopher in 1985, next came Jess in 1986, the youngest boy James came in 1989, and completed their family in 1991 when Melissa joined them.

Rod came home to help with the family farm after his Dad had a heart attack in 1981. Rod loved farming and everything associated with it. Rod’s favorite season was harvest. He spent endless hours cultivating the earth, getting ready for next year’s crop. He loved collecting toy tractors, guns, and attended as many auctions as possible. Reading the Bible, listening to sermons, and listening to gospel music were some of his favorite ways to follow in his mom’s footsteps. One of his favorite hobbies was woodworking and giving his projects as gifts to family and friends. He gave away many crosses and made a child size rocking chair for each of his kids and Katie’s family, so each of his grandkids, great nieces and great nephew could enjoy rocking in a chair made with love and care.

Rod served Garden County as a County Commissioner for one term, then was employed with the Union Pacific Railroad for 20 years, until his health failed, and he retired. He resumed farming full-time and his most recent endeavor was raising chickens. He loved gathering eggs with the grandkids and they would rush to the house to see if that day’s egg count beat the record.

Rodney was a devoted husband, father, and grandpa. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and as much time with his grandkids as possible.

Rod is survived by his wife of 39 years, Danelle, sons Christopher (Kathryn), Jess (Brittney), James (Tessa), and daughter Melissa (Kacey) Huff. Grandkids Jayla, Kenzi, Jaxson, Elsie, Kayson, Ruby, Kohen, Maggie, and Korah. His brother Buddy Paulsen, brothers-in-laws, sisters-in-laws, mother-in-law Whanda Collins, his aunt Barb Zorn and uncle Doug Paulsen, multiple cousins, along with a multitude of nieces and nephews, and friends.

Rod was preceded in death by his mother and father; Rodney J. and Sharon K. Paulsen, his sister Kelly Reece, grandson Jep Paulsen, maternal aunts and uncles, father-in-law Don Collins, grandparents, cousins, and friends.