Paul Tokpa

Paul Tokpa passed away on July 18, 2023. 

Paul was born on January 1, 1980 to the union of Mr. & Mrs. Gweah he was raised by Mr. Flomo Tokpah and his wife Gorpu Tokpah. Paul grew up with Marie, Sarah, Henry, Oretha, Wesley, Ma. Tokpah, Peter, and Alphonso Tokpah. For education, he attended trade school in Liberia where he trained in auto mechanic. When the civil war started in Liberia in 1989, Paul reconnected with the Gweah family in Danane, Ivory Coast in 1990.

In Ivory Coast, Paul lived with Ben, Aaron, Brenda, Nancy, Oretha, Martha, and Winston Gweah. Paul and his siblings migrated to the United States in 2000 through the resettlement program. They came to Des Moines, Iowa. Since then, he lived here until his sad demise on July 3, 2023. He was not married but he left behind a beautiful 7 year old daughter (Mariama Tokpah) in Liberia. Paul was a devoted Christian. In Des Moines, Paul practiced his Christian faith through the Kyles AME Zion Church, the edifice we are in right now.

Paul worked for Tyson Company in Perry, JVS company in Marshall Town, TPI in Newton, Titan Tires in Des Moines, and many more.

As a person, Paul lived an impactful life. He was nice to people he met and interacted with. He provided his services to many people, especially new residents to get settled in the Des Moines. Some of those services were transportation, finding jobs, relocation to new apartments or homes, voluntary cash assistance, babysitting, and many more. Never a time we heard of Paul misbehavior to other people. As we say in Liberia, he was a down to earth person.

In death, Paul was preceded by his mother, Martha Gweah, foster father, Flomo Tokpah, and brother Wesley Tokpah.

As he takes his final rest today in eternality, his family members, friends, and people who he assisted will miss him dearly. May his good soul rest in God’s paradise until we all meet again. Safe journey, Naa Tokpah, as I affectionately and Jokingly called him.