Paul M. Erickson

Paul M. Erickson

August 1, 2025

Paul M. Erickson, D.D.S., 94, of Scottsdale, Arizona, formerly of Rock Island, Illinois, died Friday, August 1st, in Scottsdale. Paul's life will be celebrated at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale on Friday, August 8th, at 11:00am. Private inurnment will be at National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal, where military honors will be presented by American Legion Post 246.

Paul was born in Moline, Illinois on February 14, 1931, the son of Basil L. and Goldie Hart Erickson. He and high school sweetheart, Marion Elizabeth Carlson, were married at Salem Lutheran Church, Moline, on November 16, 1952. As newborns, Paul and Marion shared the same nursery at Lutheran Hospital, Moline. Paul often joked, "The nurses had a hard time keeping me in my own crib." Together they raised two daughters, Dawn, a community college English professor, and Jane, a nurse.

Paul was educated in the Moline school system and was graduated from Moline High School in January, 1949. In 1954, after a four year enlistment in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, he enrolled in the pre-dental curriculum at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. In 1961, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Chicago, where he was the recipient of the W. Howard Kubaki Award for clinical excellence in dentistry. He continued postgraduate studies at the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, St. Louis University, and Christensen Clinic, Provo, Utah.

Paul greatly enjoyed his patients, and many became friends during his 35 years of practice in Rock Island. He was a past president of the Rock Island District of the Illinois State Dental Society. He was a past member of the board of trustees of the Illinois State Dental Society where he co-authored the revision and update of the Illinois State Dental Practice Act. Also, he designed the format for the Illinois State Dental Society annual business meeting.

Until moving to Arizona, Marion and Paul were members of First Lutheran Church, Moline, and former members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moline, where Paul served on the church council and was a long-time choir member. He was a former member of the Augustana College Handel Oratorio Society where he helped usher in Christmas seasons singing in the chorus of The Messiah. He was a 20-year member of the Rock Island Rotary Club serving many years on the invocation committee; Rock Island County Historical Society; Davenport Outing Club; Moline Viking Club; Moline football M Men's Club (where during his high school playing days he earned the nickname "golden toe" by sportswriters for kicking consecutive points after touchdowns); Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center; and Tri-City Cinema and Video Club where he received acclaim for underwater videography he took during 15 years of scuba diving in temperate oceans throughout the world.

Following retirement in 1996, Paul and Marion divided their time between Rock Island and Scottsdale, Arizona, moving there full time in 2018, where they have been active members of La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church.

Paul is survived by Marion, his wife of 72 years; daughters Dawn Watts (Michael) Denton, TX and Jane Erickson, Scottsdale; grandsons Nicholas Watts and Michael Rosholm; nephews Tom Jones and Jack Bergstrom; and nieces Elizabeth Selander, Joan Kemna, and Deb Measells.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, sister Virginia Jones, brother-in-law Raymond R. Jones, and nephew Tim Jones; brother-in-law Dr. Robert E. Bergstrom and sister-in-law Margaret Bergstrom, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law James H. and Joanne Carlson.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Moline, La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, or Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Paul often acknowledged that Marion was the reason for most of the success he enjoyed in his life. Her sacrifice allowed him to continue through seven years of college during which she was the major breadwinner. Later, thanks to her secretarial skills, Paul's office ran efficiently. Also, she would fill in if a staff member was absent, all this while doing a great job of raising two daughters. Amazing!