Constance Marie Paulson

She entered this world on New Year’s Eve, 1945 and left it on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018. Constance “Connie” Paulson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but spent her childhood and early adult life in Barron, Wisconsin. Connie graduated from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse and taught in both Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Colorado Springs, Colorado before moving to Reno, Nevada where she created her own business. Using her sewing talent to start and operate a sewing workroom, she made custom window and bed coverings for Macy’s West and San Francisco Interior Designers.

Connie retired from her sewing business to become a fabulous glass artist in the late 1990’s. She created dazzling fused glass art which hangs in several banks and hospitals. Besides doing work on the behest of the Sierra Arts Foundation, Connie participated in many Art Shows such as the Tempe Festival of Arts. She married Glenn Ishibashi in 2000 and they moved to PebbleCreek in Goodyear, AZ in 2005. When PebbleCreek opened its Tuscany Falls Art Center, Connie started their fused glass studio; determining equipment and supplies and teaching the first Fused Glass Art classes.

Her creativity continued to surface and Connie enjoyed learning and doing many art forms including slab pottery, calligraphy, zentangle, and beaded and precious metal clay jewelry.

Besides being an artist, Connie was a tireless sportsperson and an avid Green Bay Packer fan. She excelled at figure skating and golf from childhood on and devoted much of her time while living 40 years in Reno at the Arrowcreek Golf Club hitting a pyramid of golf balls (144) daily. Connie hated competing with anyone but herself and gave up competitive golf early in her 60 plus year golf career. She carried a mid single digit handicap during the brief period in her late 50’s when Glenn convinced her to enter some mixed pairs tournaments. Of note, Connie and Glenn met on a blind date arranged by a friend when Connie’s stipulation was “a golfer who cares about his swing more than his score”. Glenn lied.

Connie and Glenn lived a snowbird’s life; summers in Park City Utah and winters in PebbleCreek.

She had a lot of love to give; she was honest to the core and not afraid to speak her mind. She was thoughtful, generous, caring and creative and enjoyed her step children and grandkids immensely.

Connie is survived by her husband, Glenn Ishibashi; mother, Charlotte Wintrone, 94; sisters, Gloria (Mark) Dobberfuhl and Cindy LaPoint; and brothers Bob (Bonnie) Paulson and Tom (Laurie) Paulson. Her step kids are Midori Ishibashi Wall and Kimi Ishibashi (Tim) Baker. Her grandchildren are Zoey, Ainsley, and Emerie.

She will be greatly missed by all that knew her; her joie de vivre, her humor, sparkle and beauty inside and out. We love you Connie.