Kendra Paulson, age 41, entered heaven’s gates on Friday, January 9, 2026, after a valiant battle with cancer. Wife to John and proud mother of three amazing children, she brought joy into every room she entered with her quick wit, bright smile, and the laughter she so easily inspired. Memorial services will begin at 11 am on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison. Visitation with family present will be held on Tuesday from 5 – 7 pm with a 7 pm prayer service, also at the church.
Kendra Lynn Droppers was born on February 10, 1984, to Ken and Cindy (Vreugdenhil) Droppers in Pierre, South Dakota, perfectly completing their family of six. She enjoyed singing, playing her clarinet, marching band, and fishing with her family during her school years. She graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 2002.
Kendra attended Black Hills State University, graduating in 2007 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. While in college, she met the love of her life, John Paulson, whom she married on July 3, 2009.
After their marriage, Kendra and John lived in Hudson, South Dakota, where both worked at the local nursing home. Their son Atley was born during their time there. The family moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska in 2011, where their daughter Melia and son Renn were born. Kendra devoted those years to being a stay-at-home mom, a role she cherished deeply.
In 2015, the family moved to Scribner, Nebraska. There, Kendra turned her longtime hobby of crocheting into a small business, creating beautiful blankets, hats, scarves, and more. She also sold Thirty-One products and was an active member of Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) in Fremont, where she loved encouraging and supporting other mothers. Later, she worked as a paraprofessional at the local elementary school. Kendra loved children, but her greatest passion and joy in life was raising her own three children: Atley (15), Melia (13), and Renn (11).
They moved back to their home state of South Dakota during the pandemic in 2020, landing in Madison. Kendra worked in the public school system as a SPED paraprofessional, taught preschool at Trinity Lutheran, and was an office assistant at United Methodist at the time of her diagnosis. She worked there until she was too ill to work.
Kendra’s generosity, kindness, and humor touched the lives of all who knew her. She faced adversity with remarkable grace and found humor in nearly every situation. Anyone who spent even a short time with her found themselves feeling at ease and probably giggling over an inside joke. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.
Kendra is survived by her husband, John Paulson; her children Atley, Melia, and Renn Paulson; her parents Ken and Cindy Droppers; and her siblings Dawn (Grant) Hansen, Jeremy Droppers (Alexandria Mills), and Erin (Matt) Rudy. She is also survived by her mother-in-law Clarice Paulson; brother- and sister-in-law Kyle and Jessy Paulson; nieces Aleigha Paulson, Charleanna Paulson, Brenna Hansen, Kylee Slocum, Naveena Rudy, and Celeste Rudy; nephews Zach (Corina) Bronemann, Kyle (Ashley) Bronemann, Kendrick Droppers, Tayden Rudy, and Conrad Paulson; great-nephew Logan Bronemann and new one expected in March.
She is also survived by 3 aunts, 5 uncles, 25 first cousins, and two grandmothers, Jean Droppers and Dorothy Vreugdenhil.
Kendra is preceded in death by her grandfathers Melvin Droppers and Virgil Vreugdenhil, her father-in-law Russell Paulson, one first cousin, and a baby she miscarried.
In lieu of flowers, Kendra requested memorials to be donated towards the Trinity Lutheran Preschool Scholarship Fund. Checks may be written to Trinty Lutheran Preschool, memo “Scholarship Donation”, 203 N Harth Ave, Madison SD, 57042.
