Paula Jeanne Haire

Visitation: Friday, January 16, 2026, 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M., Peterson Mortuary, 212 S. Locust Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Services: Friday, January 16, 2026, 2:00 P.M., Peterson Mortuary, 212 S. Locust Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Paula Jeanne Haire, 83, of Glenwood, Iowa, formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 9, 2026. She was born February 16, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Royce Milam and Geraldine Boley Milam Smeltzer.

After high school, Paula earned an associate’s degree in vocal music performance from Del Mar College. She was married to Dennis Barry Haire on August 12, 1962, in Corpus Christi, Texas. To this union, five children were born: Paula, Melody, Barry, Kimberly, and Jennifer.

Paula was a talented pianist and vocalist who sang at numerous weddings, funerals, and in retirement homes as early as age 14. She sang with her children and grandchildren and passed on this gift and love of music to them. Paula attended Life Spring Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. A follower of Christ, she loved to help people. As a child, she dreamed of being a missionary. She brought her children along with her to help single mothers and to minister at shelters and homes such as Teen Hope in Concord, California. She opened her heart and home to people of all kinds who were in need. With a joy in all things beautiful and handmade, she opened her boutique, Victorian Heart, in Glenwood, Iowa, in 1989 and reopened it in Nebraska City in 1996. She loved fishing, tracing family history, crafting, parties, and jumping into the car to find adventure with her family. She enjoyed sharing memories of throwing youth group parties with her sister Anne, her generous mother, Geraldine, her father, Roy —a man of faith, and her four rambunctious younger brothers whom she loved deeply. She loved her husband, Denny, and entire family with all of her heart and will be missed by everyone.

Preceding Paula in passing were her parents, Royce R. Milam and Geraldine Boley Milam Smeltzer; brother-in-law, Jimmie R. Williams; and granddaughters, Joy Diane Fossett and Grace Noel Fossett. Survivors include her husband Dennis Haire of Glenwood, Iowa; children Paula Brown of Glenwood, Iowa; Melody (Douglas) Fossett of Papillion, Nebraska; Barry  (Lisa) Haire of Papillion, Nebraska; Kimberly (Scott) Glass of Omaha, Nebraska; Jennifer (Jason) Bazemore of Omaha, Nebraska; 21 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren with two on the way; 3 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Anne Williams (the late Jimmie R. Williams) of Cypress, Texas; Roger Milam of Katy, Texas; Royce (Sue) Milam of Cypress, Texas; Gary (Patty) Milam of Argyle, Texas; Greg (Debby) Milam of Boerne, Texas; many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

Interment, Glenwood Cemetery, Glenwood, Iowa.

Memorial donations may be directed to the family.