Michael Ronald 'Mike' Pauling

Pauling, Michael Ronald "Mike" Mike died peacefully on Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 at 1:02pm in Eden Prairie, MN at the age of 70 of complica- tions from Alzheimer's disease surrounded by family and friends. Mike is survived by his wife of 50 years, Diana Jean Pauling (Zeches); children, Heather Pauling, Derek (Jennifer Moore) Pauling; grandchildren, Zachary Pauling, Sterling Rouleau, Taylor Pauling, Iris Rouleau; siblings, Cheryl Pauling-Simanovski (George), Roxanne (Jerry) Christenson, Wade Pauling (Laurie Erickson), Michelle Wehrle, Kimberly Jegloski, Joy Schmidt, Merleen (Mike) Knott, Aubrey (Emu) Johnson, Lowell (Nuvia) Johnson; stepmother June O'Gara, special extended family and friends. Preceded in death by; mother, Dolores Pauling Welin; father, Theodore (Ted) Pauling; brother, Scott Pauling, stepmother Rosemary Pahlen. the special extended family and friends. Mike was born on August 11, 1946 in Mpls, MN. Mike's high school years were some of his most memorable. He lettered multiple years in baseball, wrestling, and football and at Bloomington High graduated in 1964. Mike played college football and wrestled at Augsburg for one year, then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam, was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. While recovering in Japan, Mike's sweetheart since junior high, Diana Zeches, joined him and they were married April 21, 1967. Following recovery from his injuries Mike played football for 2 years for the Navy/Marine Corps team in Japan. His service in the Marine Corps was exemplary from the day he arrived in boot camp until his honorable discharge in November 1969. He obtained the rank of sergeant. Following returning to the Twin Cities he continued his education at Normandale Community College and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B. S. in Business. Mike and Diana raised their family in Eden Prairie and were proud to be residents for 40 years. Mike started his career working as a train engineer for Queen Anne Kiddieland. While looking for a permanent management position, Mike did landscaping for road construction, eventually accepting a position at Satellite Industries in developing the office trailer and portable restroom expansion. According to Mike, entrepreneurism became his fatal disease. In 1985 he started the first of many businesses that focused on conserving natural resources including Preferable Fuels & Systems Inc., Pauling and Associates Consulting, Signature Sportswear, Biffs Boxes, LLC, and Biffs Pathfinders all leading to his biggest success, the portable restroom and service company, Biffs, Inc. Mike brought Biffs into the Twin Cities from Hutchinson, MN in 1986 with a few hundred portable restrooms, a few trucks, and a vision to be the best. Mike grew Biffs with the help of his wife, Diana, into the largest portable restroom company in the Twin Cities metro area which now has evolved to a 2nd generation company with thousands of pieces of equipment, 40 trucks and 70 employees. Mike was an awarded leader in the portable sanitation industry worldwide and served as the President of the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) for multiple terms. Mike was known for his ambition, hard work and integrity; and he inspired others to do the same. He loved vacationing with Diana in St Maarten and summers on their boat docked at Lake Minnetonka. He enjoyed the outdoors; fishing, deer hunting, horseback riding, and landscaping. He was a loving brother, husband, father, grandfather (especially), uncle, cousin and friend. Semper Fi, and as Mike would say, "Sure is great to be an American." MRP Please join us in celebrating Mike's life. Services are Wednesday, July 26th, Pax Christi Catholic Community, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347, 9-11 am Visitation, 11 am Funeral. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Cure Alzheimer's Fund, curealz.org Washburn-McReavy.com Eden Prairie Chapel 952-975-0400

Tributes

Michael Ronald 'Mike' Pauling

July 18, 2017

Tributes

Michael Ronald 'Mike' Pauling

July 18, 2017

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