7/29/1941 – 9/19/2023
“Every day is a gift!” was Alice’s motto. She considered each person who crossed her path, every flower in her garden, every minute spent with her grandkids a true gift and blessing to be enjoyed. Her kindness, curiosity, sense of humor, and wise advice will be greatly missed. Alice passed peacefully holding her husband’s hand on September 19, 2023.
Alice was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 29, 1941, to Jonas and Agnes Paulsen who were recent Norwegian immigrants. She grew up in Flushing, Queens, NY, with her older brother, Paul. While in high school, she was involved as class treasurer, a cheerleader, played basketball, and excelled in academics with a perfect score on the Regents math exam. During her senior year, she was selected as the “Queen of Queens.”
In 1959, she attended Wheaton College and majored in mathematics. She also played collegiate basketball. During her sophomore year, she was asked to a football banquet by David Kemna. After dating for a couple of years, they married in 1962, beginning a 60 year adventure together. They lived in many different places before settling in Newtown, CT, in 1969.
Alice was very involved in her children’s activities while living in Connecticut, but also enjoyed the garden club, a special group of friends, and traveling. She found time to earn a masters degree in education from Western Connecticut State University.
Her family moved yet again in 1983 to the Fort Atkinson area. Here, in 1984, Alice began a very fulfilling career as a teacher at Faith Community Christian School. Nothing gave her more pleasure than to work with her students. For the next 15 years she taught just about every grade and also served as administrator.
Alice enjoyed flower gardening, spending time with her grandkids, taking pictures, and traveled many miles in a van and plane with her husband.
Alice is survived by her husband, David, of 60 years, her son Steve Kemna (Myra) and daughter Peggy Boshart (Jeff), and grandchildren, Eli Kemna, and Jonas and Analisa Boshart. Alice was preceded in death by her brother Paul Paulsen and sister-in-law, Barbara. Her surviving nieces and nephew, Kathy Robinson, Donna Bold, and Carl Paulsen, all of upstate New York, have a special place in her heart.
A memorial service will be held on October 6 at Faith Community Church in Fort Atkinson. Visitation will be at 2pm, the service will start at 3pm. The family would like memorial gifts to be given to Faith Community Christian School (via Faith Community Church) in honor of Alice.
Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.
File photo/public domain.
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I am so sadden for the passing of your loved one. She was delightful to meet and talk with such a wonderful person.
I am so sorry to hear of Alice’s home-going. She is rejoicing with her Savior, but I know she has left a huge hole behind her. I was blessed to know Alice and to have had the fun of showing her many years of photos of Peggy and Jeff in Haiti. She wanted to see them all since all she got from Peggy and Jeff were photos of gardens! Alice enriched my life. My prayers are with you all as you learn to live without her. She’s not gone, just gone ahead. Hugs all round.