JUHL, Paula Rae 1942 - 2016

JUHL, MCELDOON, ALEXANDER, CHANEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 12/9/2017 at 12:52:58

Paula Rae Juhl (McEldoon) of Leland, NC, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, at the age of 73.

Paula Rae Juhl was born on Dec. 4, 1942, in Mason City, Iowa. She was the youngest of two brothers and two sisters. She lived a wonderful life with her brothers and sisters as her parents Paul and Leona McEldoon raised them in Clear Lake, Iowa. During childhood Paula was known to be a fun, laughing, and active girl.

Paula graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1961 and immediately went off to Mankato College in Minnesota, where she studied to become a teacher. Upon graduation, she landed her first teaching job in Garner, Iowa.

As she started her life in Garner, she braved to go on a blind date and met the love of her life, Doug. Doug was a pilot in the Navy and impressed her by taking her for a plane ride on their first date. It must have worked because they packed their warm weather clothes and left the frigid winter of Iowa and married in Hawaii on Dec 28, 1968.

Paula and Doug enjoyed their time in the Navy as they lived in many places including Honolulu, Hawaii; Corpus Christi, TX; Monterey, Alameda, Long Beach and San Diego, CA; Brunswick, ME; Salt Lake City, UT; Atsugi, Japan; and New York, NY. She enjoyed them all and kept the home fires burning while her husband was away for many extended periods.

One of the notable places was in Corpus Christi, Texas, where the first of their two wonderful daughters was born in 1970 during a hurricane. Their next notable assignment in the Navy was to Monterey, California, where Coleen was born in 1972 attended by an Army Combat doctor.

Paula adored her girls and put aside her career as a teacher and raised them while the Navy put them in many places she often spoke of with fond memories. She restarted her teaching career in the Department of Defense School system in Japan.

After Paula and Doug finished their career in the Navy they settled in Maryland where Paula continued teaching; obtained a graduate degree to further advance her career. She became the Principal at Leonardtown Elementary and finished her career as a Supervisor of Schools in the St. Mary’s County system.

While Paula was wrapping up her career, she became a grandmother for the first time with the birth of a granddaughter, EmaLee in 1997.

Unfortunately tragedy struck in 2000 when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is when Paula’s strength and determination came through and she beat the odds and survived the battle with cancer. It was meant to be as she was able to enjoy four more grandchildren. She so adored them as she spent much of her time attending as many of the sporting and school events as she could.

It was time to pick a retirement location and Leland, NC was it. Doug and Paula went to the warmer weather in 2008. Soon after, another unfortunate tragedy struck and her daughter, Nicole, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her focus was being a caretaker and the fight and determination she learned with her previous battle helped her daughter beat breast cancer. Nicole passed away in 2015 when cancer struck yet again.

Paula’s story was an inspiration; she and her family were asked to be on the Today Show in New York City in 2011. The entire family went back to New York City and reminisced of their previous time there, but more importantly Paula was able to tell her story that inspired to those who faced similar challenges.

Paula faced many challenges in her life and always took them straight on. She had a strong will and gave thoughtful advice to those around her and was always right.

Paula gave her all and was fortunate enough to enjoy life to the fullest. Despite her difficult times, she always emanated a positive outlook. She recently went on a tour of Europe and was able to enjoy the time with her husband Doug as they traveled and enjoyed time together.

Paula is survived by her husband, Douglas Wray Juhl; one child, Coleen Rae Alexander, her husband Garry and their two children, EmaLee, 19, and Joseph, 16, of Poquoson, VA; and her other three grandchildren Mason, 16, Riley, 14, and Nathan, 10, Chaney of Dunkirk, MD. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.