Paul Gregory

Paul Eliot Gregory died suddenly on Thursday, November 28th, 2024, Thanksgiving, in Rüdesheim, Germany attended by his wife of nearly 44 years, Doris Gail (nee Peterson) Gregory. 

He was born on July 14th, 1954, to parents Rev. Richard Eliot Gregory and Marjorie Elizabeth (nee Apperson) Gregory, in Minneapolis, MN. 

He is preceded in death by both of his parents. He is survived by his wife; and their children David Gregory and wife Meuy (nee Saephan); Matt Brauer and wife Jessie (nee Van Voorhis); Beth Dixon (nee Gregory) and husband Alex; and Jonathan Gregory and partner Britt Van Buskirk; grandchildren Vichai Saefong and wife Rachel (nee Yang), Nai, Jay, Jason, and Kevin Saephan; Aiden and Tessa Brauer; Sebastian and Eleanor Dixon; great-grandchildren Mason, Harper, Asher and Noah Saefong; sister Rev. Anne Gregory; brother Rev. Dr. Charles Gregory and wife Rev. Beth (nee Fox), nieces Corey Smith and husband Mike Haw; Margaret Lambie (nee Gregory); and Laura Gregory; sisters-in-law, Dawn Rol (nee Peterson) and husband Ron and Judy (nee Benson) Schollen and husband Len; brother-in-law Michael Peterson and wife Connie (nee Soderberg) and their family. 

Paul lived a full life, but definitely expected to have many more years ahead of him. 

When Paul was 2, his family, including younger sister Anne were sent to Bangkok, Thailand as missionaries. Younger brother Charlie was born there. Paul attended International School Bangkok, except grades 2, 7 and 12, when the family was furloughed back to St. Paul. He then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Brown University, graduating in 1976. In January 1977 he started working at 3M specializing in adhesive chemistry. It was there that he met Doris, and they married on December 19th, 1980. They moved to Singapore for a 3M assignment with David, Beth and Jonathan in 1987, returning to Minnesota in 1990. Thanks to his fluency in Thai, another 3M assignment took him, Doris, Beth and Jonathan to Bangkok, Thailand in 1996, returning again to Minnesota in 2002. Before retiring in 2018 he worked in several divisions, including traffic adhesives, industrial adhesives, and technical services. 

Paul traveled extensively for both work and leisure, visiting six continents and countless countries. He maintained fluency in Thai and French. Favorite trips included renting a farmhouse in the Loire Valley in 2001, and to Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Pattaya in February 2020. He had hoped to repeat those trips. In retirement, he and Doris took several trips each year, including multiple cruises. He looked forward to taking cruises with his youngest grandchildren, Sebastian and Eleanor and was excited for the Disney cruise reservations in the spring. 

Paul was intensely curious, always learning and had an amazing memory. He was able to lecture at length extemporaneously on almost any subject. He collected a tremendous number of books on a wide variety of subjects, particularly the Civil War and South-East-Asian History. He had intended to organize the library. Paul was generous with his time and his knowledge. 

He will be greatly missed.

Funeral Service 12 PM with visitation beginning at 10 AM, Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Private family burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.