Paul Robert Thorwaldsen

Paul Thorwaldsen, age 79, died December 4, 2025. He was born August 27, 1946, in Duluth, Minnesota to Robert and Charlotte (VanDuyn) Thorwaldsen.

He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1964 and went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from, what is now, MSUM.

He was married to Kathy Schultz in 1968, the year the couple moved to Detroit Lakes, and when both began teaching in the Detroit Lakes school system. Paul was an English teacher in the high school and was the head wrestling coach and cross-country coach. He returned to college in 1973 at the University of North Dakota where he taught English and attended law school, receiving his Juris Doctor Degree in 1976.

Kathy died unexpectedly at age 35. Paul and Cindy Ankerfelt were married in 1984, and had one son, Bob. They were fortunate to have 41 years together.

Paul practiced law in Detroit Lakes for 47 years and was a Partner in the Thorwaldsen & Malmstrom Law Firm where his son, Bob, is also a Partner. He was named a leading Minnesota and United States attorney and a Minnesota Super Lawyer. He enjoyed the outdoors and car collecting. He was an avid hunter and self-described “inept fisherman,” and loved to watch Cindy’s garden grow.

He is survived by his wife Cindy; son Bob (Shea); stepchildren Jeff Ankerfelt, Kim (Damien) Jungroth, Chris (Kim) Ankerfelt; sisters Janice Beeson and Wendy (Tom) Willett; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Kathy; his brother in-law Rob Beeson, and his sister in-law Fran Schultz.