Paul E. Pruin

Paul E. Pruin, 91, of rural Rockwell, Iowa passed away peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2026 at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026 at Faith United Church of Rockwell, with Pastor John Sheahan, Reverend Jake Ditsworth, and Reverend Will Hunsaker officiating. Visitation will be held the evening prior at the church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors presented by the Mason City Honor Guard.

Memorials may be directed to the MS Society or to Faith United Church of Rockwell.

Paul Eugene Pruin was born May 17, 1934 in Parkersburg, Iowa, the son of Henry and Ruth (Galpin) Pruin. The family moved to the rural Mason City area where Paul graduated from Mason City High in 1953. After graduation, Paul joined the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1953 to 1955, where he was trained as a paratrooper.

On June 27, 1954, Paul was united in marriage to the love of his life, Marlene Smith, at United Methodist Church in Rockwell. When he returned home from Army service in 1955, he started farming, a lifelong occupation which he would continue until his retirement. Paul and Marlene were blessed with three children, and Paul farmed and raised livestock alongside his son, Doug, for many years. Beyond his own lands, Paul was also deeply involved in the community, and served on the boards for the Farmer Elevator Coop, Rockwell Telephone, and the Rockwell-Swaledale school board. He was also a Pioneer Seed Dealer for well over thirty years.

Throughout his life, Paul loved horses. From a young age, he could always be found riding a horse. He included his family in his enthusiasm early on with a riding club for friends and neighbors. In the 1980s, Paul bought his first pair of Belgian draft horses. From there he started breeding and showing horses at fairs and shows, from Mason City and Albert Lea to Spencer, Britt, and the Iowa State Fair. The six horse hitch was his biggest thrill. His greatest pride was Charlie H, who produced many wonderful colts that were sold around the country. Paul and Marlene were inducted into the Draft Horse Hall of Fame in 2006. He treasured his time showing and all the lifelong friends that were made along the way. Paul also traded for many years with the Miller Brothers, which blessed him with another long-lasting friendship he made there.

After the passing of his wife, Marlene, in 2003, he met and married Jeanette Hall in February of 2006. After retiring, Paul spent time tending to his garden. He also collected and tinkered with tractors; the most prized member of this collection was his father’s tractor, a 1951 Ford 8N.

Paul deeply loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Family was always important to him, and he treasured his time with them. For a number of years, the family would go together to Lake Miltona in the summer for a week of fishing, relaxing, and companionship. Paul’s family will remember his devotion to them, his quick wit, and his love for horses, farming, and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Paul is survived by his wife, Jeanette; children, Doug (Tammy) Pruin of Rockwell, Barbara (Bill) Moorehead of Mason City, and Leigh (John) Sheahan of Roland; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (Peter) Bixel and Krista (Eric) Hemann of Mason City, Matthew (Maggie) Pruin and Mark (Melissa) Pruin of Ankeny, Kendra (Adam) Helgeland of Lake Mills, Dustin (Traci) Moorehead of Hampton, Joshua (Toya) Moorehead of Mason City, Jordan (Elizabeth) Sheahan of Iowa Falls, Jacob (Jenscie) Sheahan, Jewell, and Ali Sheahan of Waterloo; 23 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert (Jeanette) Pruin; sisters-in-law, Nancy Pruin and Marilyn (Al) Schwanke; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Marlene; parents, Henry and Ruth Pruin, parents-in-law, Frank and Ruth Smith; brother, Harold.