Paul L Sullivan

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202

Paul L. Sullivan, 65, died peacefully at his home in Mankato on August 13, 2012 after a courageous and patient 2 " year struggle with brain cancer. He was born June 17, 1947 to John and Martha (nee Loe) Sullivan in Superior, Wisconsin. After completing a masters program in Mechanical Engineering he entered the U.S. Navy and served as an engineering duty officer from 1970-1974 on the aircraft carrier USS America. He earned the rank of Lieutenant JG during the Vietnam War, including tours of duty in the Mediterranean and the Philippines.

Upon his discharge Paul worked at 3M in St. Paul as a Senior Development Engineer. While there he met his wife, Rebecca Peterson, and they were married June 17, 1978. In 1987 he returned to school at the University of Minnesota where he obtained a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. In 1997 he accepted a teaching position at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he deeply enjoyed teaching in the Automotive Engineering Technology department until the diagnosis of his tumor in March of 2010.

Paul loved his family and was a very caring dad. His happiest years were those in which he was teaching. Even after his tumor diagnosis, the aides who helped him learned from him. Paul enjoyed car repair, reading war histories, walking, motorcycling, and camping. He enjoyed being near water. Down through the years he participated in church, particularly as a communion server. His favorite hymn was the Navy Hymn. During his illness he loved to sit and listen to Rebecca sing hymns to him.

Paul is survived by his wife, Rev. Rebecca; two sons, Matthew and Daniel (Annelisa); sister, Catherine (Neil) Anderson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Earl and Lorraine Peterson; brother-in-law, Tim (Donadee) Peterson and nieces and nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his parents.

The visitation will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato from 4-7 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012 with a 7 pm hymn sing in which people will be invited to select and share hymns to be communally sung. All are welcome. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August, 18, 2012 with visitation 1 hour before the service at Bethlehem Lutheran. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Rapidan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to VINE Mankato, Lutheran Bible Translators, or the Salvation Army. Arrangements by Mankato Mortuary.