Paul Kolenbrander died suddenly from complications of cancer on January 11, 2017, in the company of his wife, Tanya Roberts, and granddaughter, Abby Kolenbrander. Paul moved to Maury Island in the Fall of 2009 and was known for his joyous greeting of “Good Morning.” Gardening was his passion in retirement, as well as reading, hiking and backpacking, photography, travelling, playing games and cards, and just hanging out with family and friends.

Paul’s career as a microbiologist at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland, led to interaction with researchers from all over the world as he mentored postdocs in his lab (from the United States, Israel, India, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, China, and the United Kingdom) and presented papers at international conferences. His innovative research examined communities of bacteria in the mouth and discovered how they interacted. For example, which species attached to teeth first after visiting the dentist, which followed, and what did the bacteria produce and exchange to encourage this progression.

Born at home on November 23, 1942 in rural Springfield, South Dakota, Paul’s family travelled the northern plains. His father, Dirk Kolenbrander, was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church and served many farming communities accompanied by his wife, Nellie van Heukelom Kolenbrander. Paul is survived by his siblings, Aletha Blankers, Harold Kolenbrander, and Eunice Buitenwerf as well as his children, Jeremy, Mark, and Brandy and six grandchildren. Paul and Tanya took their grandkids on adventures ranging from camping on Mount Rainier to riding the ferry to Juneau to witness “Celebration” by the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida tribes.

Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.

The family requests Memorial donations be made in Paul’s name to the Vashon Senior Center or to the Kolenbrander Family Scholarship fund at Central College, Pella, Iowa 50219.