Paul Hibma

Ocheyedan, IA

     Paul Hibma age 79 of Ocheyedan, Iowa died Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Prairie View Home in Sanborn, IA.

     Visitation will be Thursday, March 21st from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present at Downtown Church in Milford, IA.

     Funeral services will be at 2:30 PM Friday, March 22, 2024, at Downtown Church in Milford, IA, with Pastor Tom Voigt, officiating.  Burial will take place prior to the service with family only at the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery in Ocheyedan, IA.

     In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be directed to your local food pantry.

     (Edwin) Paul Hibma was born November 23rd, 1944, in Ocheyedan, IA, to Pierce and Charlotte (Strayer) Hibma. Soon Charlotte learned that the name Edwin could be shortened to Eddy, and from that day forward he was known as Paul Edwin. He was honored and proud to share his birthday with his first grandchild, Micah Schuiteman. He grew up on a farm south of Harris, IA, along with his 9 brothers and sisters. He was proud to be a member of the last graduating class from Harris High School in 1963. He was happy to remind us he graduated in the top 10 (there were only 10 students in his class). He went on to attend Worthington Junior College and Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. He also served his country in the Army Reserve.

     His recollection of meeting and romancing Mim was meeting in a revolving door and that they “have been going around together ever since.” They were married in Sibley, IA, on July 31, 1971.  They made their first home in rural Harris, moving to Ocheyedan in 1974 where they welcomed their first child, Minde. Kari joined the family 20 months later. In the spring of 1979 Paul’s growing family moved to what would become the home farm south of Ocheyedan, where Tim would join the family.

     In 1967 Paul began his farming career and a special relationship with the Wilmarth family when he began renting their family farm. This relationship blossomed and Paul’s children grew to consider Dorthy as a bonus Grandma. Many of you spent part of your youth helping Paul pick up rocks or walk beans on this farm. Tim and his wife, Annie, are currently raising their family on the Wilmarth farm. 

     We mention the Wilmarth farm particularly because of the eternal impact it had on Paul. At the age of 7, Paul attended a vacation Bible school held at a one-room schoolhouse located on the SE corner of this farm. It was while attending this Bible school that Paul made the decision to follow Christ as his personal savior. Today there are still two driveways where the schoolhouse once stood, reminding us of where his personal relationship with his Savior began. 

     This faith that began in a small one-room schoolhouse was the foundation of Paul’s life. His love for God poured into his marriage, his children, his farming and business dealings, and all aspects of his life as he strove to love and live as Jesus did.

     Paul’s life changed for the better in the spring of 1980 when his brother Steve came cruising home from college in his orange Corvette to begin his farming partnership with Paul. Together they shared equipment, swapped seats in the combine to keep it moving before winter set in, planted around-the-clock before the next rain shower rolled in, and shared both the struggles and joys that came with farming.

     In 1999 Paul received the Century Conservation Farm Family Award in recognition of his efforts and passion for protecting the soil he felt responsible to preserve. He enjoyed the time he spent serving on the Osceola Regional Health Center Board of Trustees, the Cooperative Elevator Association Board of Directors, and the Osceola County Soil & Water Conservation Board. He also faithfully donated blood to the American Red Cross.

     Paul used his gifts and servant heart in many ways. He was often called upon to share his rich, warm bass voice singing at weddings, funerals, in quartets and other community groups, and leading congregational singing at church.  Another way he showed his love and concern for others was through his involvement in his church. He served on various boards and often felt deeply the concerns and heartaches of others as he walked beside them through difficult life challenges. The impact of his empathy and selfless love was felt by those who were blessed to know him.

     Thirteen grandchildren were blessed to call him Grandpa, Bapa, or Papa Paul. No matter what they called him, they knew if they asked politely there would be a bowl of ice cream, a handful of Oreos, or a bowl of Crispix he would be happy to share. A few of their favorite memories are tractor rides, picking sweet corn, riding bikes in his shop, reading books, and checking the weather on the DTN. The ultimate was when he granted them driving privileges of the golf cart, albeit with a block of wood bolted under the gas pedal to control the speed.

     Paul’s ability to see the gifts and strengths in others was displayed in the relationships he had with his sons- and daughter-in-law. The mutual love and respect in these relationships allowed his legacy to flow through them and will continue to impact future generations. They were each blessed by his generous love. Annie had a special relationship with Paul built on care and concern that poured out through her selfless acts of service.     

     Being a father was Paul's greatest calling. He was gifted with so many qualities that made him a great dad. His children can only remember two times when he raised his voice: once at Tim, and the other at Kari, who refuses to expand on the details. The best way his children can truly describe how he fathered them is the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

     Paul is survived by his wife of over fifty-two years, Miriam (Mim) Hibma; three children and thirteen grandchildren, Minde Jo (Hibma) (husband, Matt) Schuiteman, and their children, Micah, Marshall, Miles, Margo, McArthur, Mallory, and Monique; Kari Lynn (Hibma) (husband, Jonathan) Hicks, and their children, Greta, Silas, Eva, and Helen; Timothy Paul (wife, Annie) Hibma, and their children, Magnolia, and Sullivan; eight siblings, Bob (wife, Laurel) Hibma, Lois (husband, Wayne) Hasselblad, Mim Ernst, Joe (wife, Marian) Hibma, Dan (wife, Bonnie) Hibma, Judy (husband, Lowell) Dykstra, Jerry (wife, Nancy) Hibma, and Steve (wife, Lori) Hibma; in-laws, Ben (wife, Karen) Dreesen, Sherla (husband, David) Mayer, Janelle (husband, Gary) Drent, John (wife, Anita) Dreesen, Judy (husband, Cecil) Walden, Bob (wife, Patricia) Dreesen, Peggy Luke, Lynette (husband, Dale) Nystrom, Jerry (wife, Myrna) Breuker, Lynne Dreesen, and Jolene (husband, Lee) Bruns; and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Pierce and Charlotte Hibma; sister, Barbara (husband, Wes) Peters; brother-in-law, Harold Ernst; sister-in-law, Suzanne Hibma; nephews, Ivan Peters, and John Hibma; parents-in-law, John and Helen Dreesen; in-laws, Janola (husband, James) Murra, Dennis Bremer, Char Breuker, Gene Luke and Don Dreesen; nephews, Benjamin Mayer, Rodney Drent, Matthew Bremer, Jeremy Breuker, and Robert Bruns; and great-nephew, Elliott Navis.