Paul Michael "“Buddha”" Trumble

Paul Michael ""Buddha"" Trumble passed from this life onto the next on his own terms on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at his residence in Ely, MN.

He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 10, 1962, to Nancy Ann (Hendrickson) Rasinski and Robert James Rasinski. As an act of defiance, Paul decided as an adult to take on his stepfather's last name, Trumble.

Paul was nicknamed ""Buddha"" due to his larger-than-life appearance or as he put it, ""wondrous good looks.""

Paul did not have an easy life. He was mistreated as a youngster and was put out on the streets at the early age of eight. He spent time in many different foster homes in between occasional stays with his grandparents.

Paul was a committed believer that the world was flat and would talk incessantly about his beliefs to all who would cross his path. He was also a strong believer in Our Lord Jesus Christ and had read the Bible many times. Paul had a remarkably high IQ, and his memory was incredible.

Paul was a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and often mentioned his years as a ""Deadhead"" as he followed the band throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Paul started visiting Ely in the summers starting in the mid-1980s. He permanently moved here in 2018 renting a small house in the Chandler Location.

Paul was a foodie and an exceptionally good chef. He would make large batches of soups, lasagna or other wonderful dishes and his mashed potatoes were unequalled or so he would tout. We did enjoy the food he shared and yes, Paul, your mashed potatoes were delicious.

Paul did not like to get close to anyone but started to mellow in his last few years of his life. He had a good heart, was very generous, but would not admit those attributes when he was told he had them.

If you wanted a good argument, many times you would lose because he was so intelligent and could whip out all kinds of facts he held in the recesses of his memory. If challenged, most of the time you would lose against what he brought forth from his brain. We would often tell him his brain was a vast expanse of sometimes useful knowledge and useless knowledge.

Paul was knowledgeable about recreational pharmaceuticals and would travel to the West Coast to see friends who were also likeminded.

Paul was a character and a one of a kind. He was tired of his earthly life and was ready to meet his maker. When he was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks before his death, he at once switched into a ""transition to death"" conversation and asked us not to try to tell him we would miss him or that we did not want him to go. He asked us to respect his wishes and so we did.

He is missed by those of us who befriended him, but we know he is now where he clamored to get for many of the past few decades.

A graveside service will take place for Paul on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Ely Cemetery. Father Charlie Friebohle will preside over the Christian burial for Paul. If weather allows, we will have a few of Paul's favorite treats and drinks after the service has concluded. Please join us as we celebrate Paul and the impact he had on those of us who knew and loved him.