Eleanor Paulson, age 99, peacefully entered into eternal life on Friday, January 31, 2025 at Covenant Living at Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL. Born in Iron Mountain, MI on November 3, 1925 to Arnold Paulson and Thyra Rebecca (Lund) Paulson, Eleanor enjoyed a happy childhood and graduated valedictorian from Iron Mountain School in 1943.

The family then moved to Detroit, MI and Eleanor continued her education, receiving her B.A. from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) and her M.A. from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Her first teaching assignment was at Almont High School in Almont, MI where she taught for five years. She also taught evening classes for one year at Detroit Bible College. It was during this time that an invitation altered her life in a wonderful way.

Eleanor was offered a position to teach full-time at Wheaton College in the Speech Department, specializing in Oral Interpretation of Literature under Dr. Clarence Nystrom, Chair of the Dept. Her acceptance led to 39 years of exciting classroom interactions, speech competitions, both locally and nationally, reading hours and recitals, Readers Theatre, various presentations, festivals, and chapels. One year, her student Rhonda Rutherford Miller took First in the nation in Poetry Reading. It was a rewarding career built on lasting student relationships and highlighted by Eleanor receiving the Alumna of the Year for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater in 1985.

During her free time, Eleanor loved traveling. She studied a bit in England, loved discovering her heritage in Scandinavia, and explored a bit of Europe and the middle East. She also loved music, and played the piano and sang soprano, both joyfully. Eleanor had a ready smile and a lovely laugh and enjoyed her many friends, usually over a good meal. She also loved to read and was always ready for a lively discussion. Some friends encouraged her to put her memories and many stories down on paper. The title was already settled on, which said much about her personality: "Blue Skies, Eleanor".

Eleanor was preceded in death by her cousin Gordon Lund and survived by his wife Roberta, their two daughters Deanna Kowalski & Deb Nolley, and their families.

A private burial will be held at Norway Cemetery in Norway, Michigan. A memorial service will be held at Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, 277 Hawthorne Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Eleanor Paulson Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wheaton College, 501 College Ave., Wheaton, Illinois 60187, Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church , 277 Hawthorne Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, or the Windsor Park Benevolent Care Fund , 124 Windsor Park Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188.