Professor Paul Willard Weiblen, 98 years old, died peacefully in the presence of family on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was born on February 15, 1927 in Miller, South Dakota to Anna Bellin Weiblen and George Daniel Weiblen. He was a lifelong learner and seeker of knowledge. He joined the Army in 1945 and served during the occupation of Germany. Thanks to the GI Bill, he earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Wartburg College and a master’s in European History from the University of Minnesota. He served the Defense Department during the Korean War and afterward worked for American Express in Istanbul, Turkey. Upon returning to the United States, he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in Geology at the University of Minnesota. He married Katharine (Katie) Busch in 1967. He joined the University faculty, teaching Minnesota geology and characterizing the minerals of the Duluth Complex with the Minnesota Geological Survey. He worked on the lunar samples from the Apollo missions and directed the University’s Space Science Center. He retired in 1997 and continued his relentless pursuit of knowledge on campus as Professor Emeritus. Paul was a storyteller and never ceased to engage others in learning about the past and looking to the future. He appreciated the years of support he received from the Minneapolis VA Hospital and donated his body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, John, William, Donovan, Richard, and his sister, Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Katharine Weiblen, son, George Weiblen, daughter, Ann Weiblen Marchant, daughter-in-law, Rebeca Montgomery, son-in-law, Tyler Marchant, grandson, Carl Weiblen, granddaughter, Caroline Weiblen, and sister-in-law Betty Weiblen.
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