Paul VanValkenburg

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VanValkenburg, Paul of Mpls, MN, passed away peacefully at Episcopal Church Homes on June 25, 2013 at the age of 79. Predeceased by parents, Horace and Julia; brother, James; and daughter, Sarah Lynn. Survived by loving wife of 54 years, Patricia; son, Douglas (Lara) VanValkenburg; daughter, Anne (Andy) Eckert; son, Peter (Karen) VanValkenburg; daughter Elizabeth (Brian) Findley; granddaughters Sarah and Natalie Eckert, Hannah VanValkenburg; many other relatives & friends. Paul will be missed as a husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. He will also be missed by those who knew him as their trusted lawyer, colleague, friend, arbitrator, director, trail mate, canoeist, commissioner, volunteer, sponsor, trustee, deacon, elder, leader, teacher, and writer. Paul was valedictorian at Washburn High School in 1951, a graduate of Harvard University in 1955, and the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1959. Paul was a third-generation attorney who practiced law for 42 years. He retired in 2000 from Moss & Barnett (originally "VanValkenburg, Blaisdell & Moss", a firm created by his father, Horace). He also courageously maintained his sobriety for 35 years after completing a 12-step alcoholism recovery program in 1978. Paul was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for over 60 years. He attended Camp Ajawah and was an Eagle Scout in Westminster's Boy Scout Troop 33. He served on Westminster's Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, and as a Ruling Elder on Session. He also led canoe trips to the Boundary Waters for Westminster youth groups. Paul was an accomplished teacher. He taught business law at the University of Minnesota for 30 years. Paul was active in the community, generously giving his time and talent to Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (past President, Director and Treasurer); ARC of the Greater Twin Cities (past Director, President, and General Counsel); the American Bar Association; the Nicollet Mall Advisory Board; the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra (past Director); the National Association of the VanValkenburg Family (past Trustee, 1996 Reunion Chair); and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity (past Director and President). To honor his outstanding volunteer contributions to the community, Moss & Barnett established the annual Paul VanValkenburg Service Award in 2001, and H.D. Hudson Co. (on whose Board he served) established an annual scholarship in Paul's name at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Some of Paul's favorite hobbies over the years were reading, listening to music, camping, canoeing, traveling, attending concerts at Orchestra Hall, and going to Minnesota Gopher football games (he had season tickets since 1960). He particularly enjoyed vacationing along Minnesota's "North Shore" of Lake Superior and in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. A memorial service will be held in Paul's honor on Saturday, 7/6, 2:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave, Mpls, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials preferred to Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, 2550 University Ave W, Ste 313N, St. Paul, MN 55114; ARC, 2446 University Ave W, Ste 110, St. Paul, MN 55114; or Camp Ajawah c/o Westminster Church.

Published on June 30, 2013