Hundreds gather at Iverson funeral

Legislators, family members, civic leaders and friends gathered Wednesday to honor Paul Iverson, director of Nevada's Department of Agriculture.

Iverson died of leukemia May 1 at Washoe Medical Center. He was 55.

The organist played old hymns like "Nearer My God to Thee" for the service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Carson City's Saliman Road.

"Paul loved people, he loved Nevada, and his heart was always in the right place," said Don Henderson, Iverson's friend and co-worker. "I had the privilege of working with him for five years. He cannot and will not be replaced at the Department of Agriculture."

He talked of a man who was a teacher first and foremost. As such, Iverson always chose education over enforcement. He improved the credibility of and relationships between the Department of Agriculture, the Legislature and the Governor's Office.

He also loved a challenge.

He tackled the contentious Virginia Range estray horse issue, a battle he could never completely win. After receiving the nod and a $10,000 budget from the Legislature in 1997, he got financial support from surrounding counties, including Carson and Lyon.

He created a holding facility and training and adoption program for horses removed from the range because of overpopulation.

"Change is always good," Iverson once said. "If it isn't, we'll just change it again."

Paul Christian Iverson tearfully drew a vivid picture of his father and his compassion and the love he had for his family.

"We could do no wrong in his eyes," he said. "He was so proud of us, and he told me every day that he loved me. He came to every football game, wrestling match, baseball game, basketball game and soccer game. E He was my hero. He was a warrior."

Originally from Cedar City, Utah, Iverson received a bachelor of science degree in education from Southern Utah State College and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

He spent 32 years in the public arena, first teaching fifth grade in the Clark County School District, from 1970 to 1975. He was the district's science curriculum coordinator from 1975 to 1980.

From 1983 to 1995, he was the assistant director of minerals for Nevada. He became the director of Nevada's Department of Agriculture in 1995.

He was a member of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and represented the state on the Animal and Plant Industries Committee and the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

He was vice president of the National Association's regional group, the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Among his survivors are his wife, Ginger of Carson City; sons Paul and Michael, both of Reno, and Patrick Taylor, of Hawaii; daughters Holly Allen of Topaz, Kari Iverson of St. George, Utah, and Meghan Taylor of Carson City; sister, Suzanne Nicholson of Ogden, Utah; and seven grandchildren.

Iverson will be buried in New Harmony, just west of Zion National Park in southern Utah.