John Warren Paulsen

John Warren Paulsen, a longtime member of the Reserve forces of the United States, passed away on January 20, 2021, in Prescott, Arizona, at age 74 following an extended illness.He held a variety of command and staff positions during his 28-year-military career with the Army Reserve and Arizona’s Army National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. John taught history and social sciences at the American School of Kuwait for two years and was liaison to the American Embassy in Kuwait.  He then served as a career education coordinator with the Arizona Department of Education and a district executive with the Theodore Roosevelt Council, Boy Scouts of America, in Phoenix.  John retired from the state of Arizona’s Division of Emergency Management as manager for homeland security planning after 26 years of service. He was also an adjunct faculty member of FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for 30 years.John was born in Davenport, Iowa, on December 22, 1946, and was raised in Bakersfield, California.  He was active in the Boy Scouts there and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout at the relatively young age of 15. He graduated from East Bakersfield High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State College in California and a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University.  John was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Military Officers Association of America and the National Eagle Scout Association.John was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Bess Paulsen. John is survived by his devoted wife of 30 years, Karen Paulsen of Prescott; daughter Janelle (Robert) Graham of Garland, Texas; son Mark (Kathleen) Paulsen of Scottsdale; brother James (Lorna) Paulsen of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada; sister Jean Luscalzo of Bolingbrook, Illinois; four grandchildren: Clara and Audrey Graham and Oliver and Anders Paulsen; brother- and sister- in-law William Clemens and Cyndy Flanigan of Tucson; and many special nieces and nephews.Memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the Yavapai County Humane Society and the American Red Cross. A memorial service will be held later because of current Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings.  He will be laid to rest at the Prescott National Cemetery with military honors.The family wishes to extend its gratitude to B Shift, Station 75 and A Shift, Station 72 of the Prescott Fire Department; and the doctors, nurses and staff of  Yavapai Regional Medical Center West for their professionalism and care.