Paul Arnold Lindfors

Dr. Paul Lindfors, age 80, passed away on October 24, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.

Paul was born in Virginia, MN on April 10, 1940 to Paul and Elsie Lindfors.  In the Lindfors house, education was a primary focus.  After finishing high school, Paul received his undergraduate at Stanford University in California. 

He then relocated back to the Twin Cities where he achieved a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.  After completing his degrees, Paul worked for Physical Electronics (dba Perkin Elmer) for many years where he studied surface analysis.

Eventually, Paul returned to the academic world as a professor when he joined Minnesota State University – Mankato where he taught for over 22 years.  Paul challenged his students, seeking to always bring out the very best out of each one of them.  He was a firm believer that education could not only open doors for opportunity but also empowered people to make significant impacts to society.  His legacy is alive in each of the students, faculty and staff that were blessed to interact with him.  His life truly was an example of ‘if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life’.   

Eventually Paul found retirement and spent those years continuing his pursuit of knowledge by traveling the globe to see and experience the world first hand with his wife by his side.  To his last breath, he could never fully quench his thirst for knowledge.  While undergoing treatment for COVID-19, Paul was still acquiring information as he watched the Noble Peace Conference.

Throughout his life Paul was also a musician.  He played the guitar and sang, he loved to entertain friends, family and even played for professional gigs over the years. 

Grateful for having shared Paul’s life are his loving wife of 50 years Gail; his daughter, Dawn (Ryan Lynn) of Castle Rock, CO; his son, Scott (Tracey Hammell) of St. Paul, MN; and his 4 grandchildren, Kelsey and Nicolas (Buzz) Lynn, Claire and Henry Lindfors.  Also blessed to have shared Paul’s life are the many friends among the years.  

We plan to hold a celebration of life at a future date.  In lieu of any gifts, we would ask that you make a donation to any of the causes he supported, including but not limited to education, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and protecting the environment.