Memorial
Paula Jo van Deest was born in Hampton, Iowa, on August 25, 1948, the first-born child of Letha and Robert Plagge and lived the majority of her childhood in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating from Malcolm Price Laboratory School where she retained many close friends.
Paula was a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with degrees in Business and Interior Design. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. It was while at Northern Iowa that she met her husband, Tom. They were married April 17, 1971, while Tom was serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. Paula joined him and lived in Germany for nine months.
Following Tom’s military service Paula moved to Cedar Rapids in 1972 and was immediately employed by Kenwood House Interiors where she became a very successful designer and often appeared in TV commercials for her employer. Later she opened a successful shop known as the Whippoorwill in Coventry Gardens Mall across from the Hotel Roosevelt. She moved her shop to the two small, Victorian brick houses located in the 1200 block of 2nd Avenue S.E. where she continued the Whippoorwill and Calder Cottage Gallery until selling her business to friends in 2004.
Paula was a founding member and co-owner of the Midwest Antique and Art and the Collector’s Eye Shows bi-annually hosted at the Hawkeye Downs Fairgrounds in Cedar Rapids since 1987. She and her husband, Tom, pursued art and unusual antiques throughout their life together.
In 1989 Paula became a mother and her daughter, Sarah, was the center of her life. Paula was a consummate volunteer, confidante and would sacrifice anything for her child. She was a dedicated mother and regarded her relationship with her daughter and her daughter’s ultimate achievements as her greatest contribution and personal achievement.
Throughout Paula’s illness she never complained, cried, second-guessed or relinquished her belief that she would get better. She protected her family and, even in discomfort, would never direct attention to herself. She faced the unknown without flinching and with a steely resolve that humbled those who knew her.
She was fortunate to have close friends who provided her with hope, planned special events, visited and even lied about her condition to shield her from unwanted attention or questions. Paula knew she was loved and, finally, that is the greatest gift a person can know.
Paula died Thursday, February 12th from complications of non-smoking lung cancer.
Paula is survived by her husband Tom, daughter Sarah, Mother Letha Plagge, siblings Mari, Robert and Kirk and their respective families, brother-in-law Tim and her Aunt Norma.
Special appreciation is given to Dr. Taher Abu Hejleh for his compassionate care, Dr. Charles Rabkin and sister Mari for their advocacy and Tom Armitage for his inspiration.
No flowers please. Instead, consider sending a contribution to the University of Iowa’s Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center in Paula’s memory. A private family ceremony is pending.