David William Poulson passed away on June 29, 2022, at the age of 83 in Galesburg, Illinois. Dave was born on September 28th, 1938, in Warren County, Illinois to Minnie Ellen Brown and George William Cornelius Poulson. The ninth eldest and youngest of three boys of Minnie and George’s 15 children, Dave was a farm boy who spent much of his childhood doing farm chores and (lovingly) teasing his 12 sisters. He graduated from Abingdon High School in 1955 at the age of 16.
At age 17, Dave enrolled in the United States Marine Corps. He was just 5’8” and 140 lbs. when he enlisted but returned home from basic training a strong and muscular 6 feet tall—so unrecognizable that his sisters didn’t know it was him in the driveway until their mother said, “girls, that’s your brother David!”
He served honorably in the Marines from 1957-1960, spending time stationed in Honolulu, San Diego, Japan, and Philadelphia and would proudly wear his Retired U. S. Marine Corp hat everywhere he went. While working in Philadelphia as a recruiter for the Marines, he met the lovely Jeanette Mae Tray.
The story goes that when Dave saw Jean across the room, it took him some time to muster up the courage to sit next to her, but when he did, he told her that he wouldn’t leave until she gave him her number. She laughingly obliged and it was the beginning of a beautiful love story. The two were married on August 20, 1960, and later moved back to Dave’s family farm in Galesburg, IL.
Dave and Jean were the loving parents of four wonderful children, Lorean June, David William II, Mark Philip, and Lynda Jeanne. With a stop in Madison along the way, the family eventually settled in Green Bay, WI where they would live for the next fifteen years.
Dave had a knack for helping people and was as a natural car salesman at Van Boxtel Ford, where he worked as the new car sales manager and parts manager. He worked very hard to provide for his family, working Monday through Saturday including a few nights each week, but he always made sure to have Sunday off. His family looks back lovingly on those Sundays, days that have filled their hearts with memories of mini-golfing, county fairs, bowling and minor league baseball games.
Dave and Jean eventually returned to Galesburg, Illinois where they would reside permanently. In Galesburg, Jean was a loving homemaker and Dave sold cars for Weaver Buick and later Yemm until his retirement.
They were the epitome of loving grandparents, always being the first to wish a happy birthday, graduation, or anniversary, celebrating each milestone with a sweet card.
Dave had a fierce competitive spirit and hated to lose – especially playing cards. Every day, he enjoyed completing even the most challenging of crossword puzzle. He also was a voracious reader, so much so that a special bookcase was made for the basement of their Green Bay home to accommodate his many western paperbacks.
Their time spent in Green Bay also allowed David to indulge in another of his favorite pastimes—the Green Bay Packers. He was a loyal fan and proud shareholder of the green and gold. Baseball was another way to Dave’s heart. An avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, if they had a game, you knew he’d be tuning in.
Dave was a follower of Christ, bringing comfort to his loved ones to know that he is now in heaven. The last few years of their lives, Dave lovingly took care of Jean as she battled many illnesses. He tracked her vitals daily, took her to the many doctor appointments and managed her pill regimen. He always made sure that she had everything she needed. He died 36 hours before her passing so that he could guide her way to heaven.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Minnie, Irene, Anna, Dot, Sonny, Rose, Phil, Marge, and Sharon, and his granddaughter Heather Ann Diefendorf. He is survived by his children, Lori (Dave), David (Kaia), Mark, and Lynda (Jim); his grandchildren, Stacy, Danny, Ginger, Erin, Meg, Liz, Kate, and Conor; and his three great-grandchildren, Lilly, Sammy, and Jett (with one more on the way!)
Dave’s senior quote was “Think a little kindly of me,” something we will all surely do. When we watch the Packers or read a great book, when we hear the crack of the bat as a homerun is a hit or we try our hand at a crossword puzzle, and when we stumble across one of
Surrounded by her children, loving family, and friends, Jeanette Mae Poulson (née Tray) passed away on June 30, 2022, in Galesburg. The second of four children, Jean was born on February 20, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA to Elsie Mae Lange and Michael Francis Tray, Jr. Her father sadly passed in an apartment fire only one month before Jean’s 16th birthday, so she helped her mom raise and look after her younger siblings until her first marriage in December of 1956. Jean gave birth to her first daughter, Lorean June, on November 11, 1957, in Philadelphia and was a single mother of only 19 after her divorce in 1958. Despite the many barriers for women at the time, Jean was able to provide for her daughter, and eventually met the man who would become her husband of over 60 years, David William Poulson.
Jean and Dave met in Philadelphia while he was there working as a Marine Recruiter. Dave saw Jean from across the room and—when he finally sat next to her—told her he wouldn’t leave until she gave him her number. The city girl looked at the strapping Marine and laughingly gave him her number. The two got married on August 20, 1960, and moved back to Dave’s family farm in Galesburg, IL where Jean and Lori were welcomed with love and open arms. Jean’s sister-in-law, Joy, fondly remembered watching as Jean would change into beautiful dresses and freshen up with perfume and makeup before Dave would come home from work every day. Jean gave birth to her second child, a son, David William II, on July 29, 1961, in Galesburg. Jean and Dave would eventually move to Madison, WI, where her next son, Mark Philip, was born on September 3, 1962. When Jean was 26, she gave birth to her fourth child, a daughter named Lynda Jeanne, born July 8, 1964. The family lived in Madison before moving to Green Bay, WI where they would live until the 1980s.
Having grown up using the public transportation of Philly, Jean didn’t get a driver’s license until 1968 at the age of 29, while living in Green Bay. She needed her license because Jean was actively involved in the lives of her children; she was a Brownie leader for both Lori and Lynda, and a Den mother for David and Mark. She also loved bowling and took David, Mark and Lynda to bowling leagues. Jean had close relationships while in Green Bay with her friend Jean Kister and neighbor, Mary Ann Lacrosse and loved to crochet. She taught Lori how to crochet even though Jean was left-handed, and Lori is not. Jean would pass this left-handed trait down to 3 of her grandchildren. Jean was also an enthusiastic grandmother, making sure to send a card, Barbie pajamas, or something she had made to each of her grandchildren for every birthday and holiday.
After Dave and Jean moved back to Galesburg, Jean received her GED on May 17, 1988, from Carl Sandburg College. Her sister-in-law, Jewel Winters, was also in the class. Throughout her life, Jean was an avid crafter, loving to crochet, paint ceramics, cross stitch, embroider, make homemade Christmas ornaments, rug latching, and even made macramé plant holders. She would crochet baby blankets for grandkids and cross stitch birth announcement wall keepsakes. Jean also hand-embroidered Christmas Stockings for each of her 4 children and 9 grandchildren, which are beloved and still used each Christmas. Whether it was Jean’s love of movies, science fiction, fresh bread, romance novels, or a grasshopper after Christmas dinner, she left behind a family who will deeply miss her and treasure their individual shared memories.
Jean was preceded in death by her father, Michael Francis Tray, Jr. (passed 1/29/55),
mother, Elsie Mae Tray Deffler (passed 9/11/88), her brother William (Billy) Tray Sr. (passed 3/3/06), her brother Michael Francis Tray, (passed 5/16/14), her half-sister, Louise DeCarlo DiLisio (passed 12/21/19), and one grandchild, Heather Ann Diefendorf (passed 5/31/18).
Jean is survived by her children, Lori (Dave), David (Kaia), Mark, and Lynda (Jim), her grandchildren, Stacy, Danny, Ginger, Erin, Meg, Liz, Kate, Conor, and her 3 great-grandchildren, Lilly, Sammy, and Jett (with one more on the way!).
After celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary on August 20, 2021, and renewing their wedding vows on August 20, 2019, Jean’s husband, David William Poulson, passed away on June 29, 2022—36 hours later, after prayer and surrounded by love, Jean passed and the two were reunited, forever.
Their combined visitation will be August 12th, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Watson Thomas Funeral Home, 1849 North Seminary Street, Galesburg, IL 61401. The joint funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on August 13, 2022 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Galesburg Rescue Mission. Online condolences may be made through www.watsonthomas.com.
