Wayne Marvin Paulson graduated from Luther College, where he majored in physics and math. He earned an MS in metallurgy at Iowa State University and went on to Northwestern University for a Ph.D in materials science. He was an engineer for Motorola (later Freescale) for 33 years in semiconductor development in Phoenix and Austin, TX, receiving 12 patents and writing over 80 technical publications.

After retirement, he was recruited by the Electrical Engineering Department at Arizona State University to assist students and faculty with projects in nanotechnology.

Survived by: his wife Lynne Chase Paulson, two daughters and a grandson.  

In addition to his immediate family, Wayne is survived by a sister, a brother, and many nieces and nephews.

His parents, a brother, a sister, and a nephew preceded him in death.

A celebration of Wayne's life will be scheduled at a later date. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Parkinson's Foundation.