Gunther Hans Dierssen

Gunther Hans Dierssen passed away at the age of 92 on June 14, 2018 in his White Bear Lake home. Gunther, a veteran of World War II, came to the United States in 1956 from Denmark aboard the ocean liner Oslo Fjord with all his worldly possessions in just a few suitcases. He left this world with a wealth of love and experiences, including 58 years of marriage to his true love Tove Dierssen (deceased 8-18-17) and the shared joy of raising four daughters (Annette, Rikke, Christina and Heidi), nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A chemical engineer from Denmark’s Tekniske Højskole, Gunther spent his early years working in the Danish fermentation industry analyzing the perfect combination of yeast and hops until he was recruited by General Electric to cross the pond and work in electroluminescence. Later, he transferred to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing where he successfully directed a laboratory developing chemical coatings for over 30 years and was a founding member of 3M’s Language Society. He participated weekly in the German table and Danish American Center activities into his 92nd year. While his numerous patents and papers are a testament to his intellect, Gunther’s legacy is how he lived his life with integrity, discipline, festivity, and “hygge.” A perfect day for Gunther would involve a swim in the ocean or a ski on a frozen lake and a Danish smorgasbord with cold beer shared with friends and family. Please contact family members for information about memorial arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family designates the Danish American Center in Minneapolis for charitable donations in Gunther’s name.