Paul Jay Torma, born on August 14, 1946, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 8th 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79 years old.

Paul was born in Marquette, Michigan to Elsie (Hietikko) and Theodore Torma.

Paul was a hardworking man who wore many hats over the years. He dedicated himself to a variety of professions. No matter the role, Paul was known for his strong work ethic, practical skills, determination and Finnish stubbornness.

He graduated Cloquet High School in June 1966 in Minnesota and entered the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam at Tuy Hoa Airbase with many good friends who he remained in contact throughout his life.

Paul Married Judith Long Torma on October 15th 1971 in West Palm Beach, Florida. While working as a West Palm Beach police officer they had their first son, Rodney in 1973. They moved to Minnesota where they purchased 40 acres of land with his GI Bill in Alborn, MN and worked as a pipefitter at the airbase in Duluth, MN. They auctioned off their property and briefly moved back to Florida to have their second son, Nickolas in 1981, then moved back to Minnesota to Robbinsdale until Rodney graduated High School and joined the Navy. They sold their home and bought a farm in Milaca, MN where Paul started a welding and fabrication business called Welding Services. He let his son Nickolas run the business while he worked around the country welding natural gas pipelines until he retired in 2020. After his wife died on February 11th 2022, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon and lung cancer in November 2022. He had always wanted to live in the southwest after serving a station in the desert while in the Air Force because he always loved the warm dry climate. So he decided to sell the farm in Milaca and move in with his son Rodney and wife Joane in eastern Arizona in October 2023 with his Boston Terriers. There he worked on restoring his 1983 Jeep Scrambler as long as he could. Rodney and Joane cared for him since his diagnosis, making sure he got to his medical and chemo appointments. He spent the last week at a VA hospital in Mesa where he died in his sleep at around 8:30pm.

He made it 4 1/2 years from his diagnosis when the doctors originally gave him 6 to 24 months to live. Paul was a man who understood service, discipline and perservearnce. He built things with his hands and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He will be remembered for his resiliance, his sense of duty, and the life experience he carried with him throughout every chapter of his life.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents Elsie (Hietikko) and Theodore Torma, his wife Judith Long Torma and his siblings Argene (Torma) Whalen, Joyce (Tromblay) Waterman.

He is survived by his sons, Rodney and Nickolas, his brother Allen Tromblay, extended family and friends, all of whom will miss him dearly.

The family will announce memorial service details at a later date.

May he rest in peace.