Paul A. Verderber, 58, of Zebulon, NC, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025, surrounded by his beloved wife, his two daughters and sons-in-law, and his two granddaughters, after a 4-year battle with cancer.
Born on April 7, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, Paul was the youngest child of the late Joseph and Anita Verderber, and brother to Lisa and the late Joey. He married his wife, Mary Ann, in June of 1992, and they shared 33 years of marriage. Together they had two daughters, Alice and Eliza. The family moved from Minneapolis, MN, to Manhattan Beach, CA, to Woodbury, MN, and then to Bakersfield, CA, before relocating to Zebulon, NC, where they built their dream home on Bunn Lake.
Paul was a man of remarkable intellect and determination. After receiving his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Lafayette College, he earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. His career began in product and process development in human and animal food, working at General Mills and M&M Mars, before transitioning to industrial sales roles at Grimmway Farms, Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients, and eventually IQI Trusted Pet Ingredients, where he worked until his retirement in 2024.
Throughout his life, Paul was guided by a spirit of adventure and athleticism. A lifelong athlete, he did it all: tennis, skiing, triathlons, wake surfing, cycling, and more. In his forties, he won his age group in an Ironman, and he celebrated his 50th birthday by running fifty miles. Even with significant health challenges, Paul continued to push forward—riding his e-bike on long group rides with the Goldilocks crew, completing the 100-mile Camino Serra walk with Mary Ann, wake surfing with his girls on Bunn Lake, and traveling across the country to see friends from all stages of his life. His resilience was extraordinary, and he met cancer with honesty, courage, humor, and a refusal to surrender the active life he loved.
Paul was a proud Catholic and an active parishioner at every parish he attended. He was a humble servant, often recognizing gaps of support in his communities and generously meeting those needs himself. He taught religious education classes in both Bakersfield and Wendell and was seen as a mentor and pillar in his community. For the past six years, he served as president of Gratia Vobis Ministries, which promotes Catholic cross-cultural evangelization. In July 2025, he traveled with the ministry to Nigeria, which provided a month’s worth of food for 5,000 people.
He touched the lives of countless people in his 58 years: his friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students. His loss will be felt most deeply by his loving wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Alice (Trevor Thomas) and Eliza (Cesar Trejo); granddaughters, Delina Trejo and June Thomas; his sister, Lisa Verderber (Joe Dellorto); nieces, Grace and Claire Dellorto; and his mother-in-law, Alice Carriger. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joey.
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” —Psalm 122
There will be a Rosary followed by a Visitation at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Wendell, NC, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11 a.m., also at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Wendell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gratia Vobis Ministries to continue Paul’s vocation of service.
Arrangements are with Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third St., Wendell. www.stricklandfuneral.com
Recordings of Mr. Paul Verderber’s Funeral Mass below:
20 Comments
We were so sad to hear of Paul’s passing. Our family is sending you many prayers and much love. It was an honor and a privilege to know Paul and to walk the Camino Serra with him and Mary Ann. We have so much love, respect, and admiration for this great man of God.
Mary Ann, we are saddened to hear of Paul’s passing. May your many wonderful memories carry you and your family through this difficult time.
Sending prayers for strength.
Take good care,
Max & Bridget Kipfer
Paul was always such a great visit – he had the best demeanor of almost everyone I have ever met.
Mary Ann, I will not be able to make the Funeral Mass due to travel but my thoughts are with you.
We were devastated when we heard Paul had passed. He was a kind man We are so sorry for your loss Mary Love from David, Katie, Emily/John Vlahos, and Joey /Anna Tate.
My heartfelt thoughts go out to the Verderbert family. I am sorry I did not know Paul but I have
the privilege of knowing his wonderful daughter Alice. May God bring peace to this family in this sorrowful time.
Mary Ann,. Paul’s memory will live with us who called him a friend, a valued colleague, a hard working teammate. He will be missed by many but none more so than you. We wish you comfort and peace in the days ahead.
What a wonderful person gone too soon. So sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Paul from his days at Grimmway and he inspired me to do my first Ironman in October of 2024. I wrote his name on bot of my ands to inspire me on the course and allow him to cross that line one more time. God bless his family he was truly a great man
We will always remember Paul for his generosity, kindness, and the way he made everyone feel at home. He and MaryAnn shared their blessings and created moments of joy for all around them. My heartfelt condolences to Mary Ann, their children, and all whose lives he touched—may his love inspire you, and may God’s work through him live on in all he served.
I was privileged to know about Paul through the eyes of my dear friend Lisa, his devoted sister. What a full life he lived in the years he was given. My deepest sympathy for your profound loss.
Mary Ann and Family. We are devastated for you on the loss of Paul. We are grieving his loss as well and we will be there in spirit with you over the next few days. I truly have nothing but great memories of Paul. Paul was no doubt a man of God, but for those of us who knew him when we were young – He was absolutely rip-roaring fun and I have a huge smile on my face when I think of our many adventures. We will miss our friend, but we were lucky to have known him, and for that I am grateful. David & Maria Closs
Paul and I studied Chemical Engineering at Lafayette College. We both graduated in 1985. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. May our loving Lord receive Paul in his Heavenly Kingdom with open arms. And may He grant you, Mary Ann, your daughters and family peace and comfort. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Keeping you all in my prayers.
“Dear Mary Ann and Family, So sorry for your loss. Paul was a wonderful person and will be tremendously missed. We are sending healing prayers and comfort during this tough time.”
Rest in Peace Paul. You left us too soon and I regret not having seen you more this last year. I always enjoyed your company and I wish I had known you better. My condolences to the family. 🙏🏼
To Dear Mary Ann and Family, We cant imagine that Paul’s loss won’t be felt very deeply by everyone who knew him, As the gentleman above said so perfectly, Paul had just THE best demeanor if anyone we’ve ever met. Always so positive, always so thoughtful and witty, and ALWAYS THAT SMILE! You are all in our prayers.
I was saddened to read of Paul’s passing. Paul and I worked and hung out together at Grimmway. He was a great guy and will be missed. To Paul’s family my heart goes out to you.
I knew Paul as a teammate and great friend in our teenage years. After school, we both found ourselves in California. When Paul visited me in Sacramento, he met my roommate in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Mary Ann, and the rest is beautiful history. I’ll remember Paul as always smiling, always ready to laugh, always wanting to do something adventurous. We had some fun, deep conversations over the last few years. He approached everything with grace and humility. An absolute legend. He will be sorely missed.
I first met Paul when I was looking for a supplier of sweet potato products. At time Paul was working for a NC based potato producer. I was impressed by his pro-activeness and sills. 2 years later Paul became by colleague at IQI. Paul had a sharp mind and great sense of humor. he kept his positive attitude until the bitter end. Paul was super proud of his wife, 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren. I wish his family all strength.
I am so sad to read this. I was just thinking of my childhood home in Berkeley Heights and the verderbers came to mind. So sad to read this about Paul. I remember him and his family fondly
I just heard of Paul’s passing yesterday and I am so sorry to hear of this. I worked with Paul at Grimmway Farms in California and he was the greatest! He was so easy to talk to and joke with. It made me sad when he moved away but we still kept in touch by email from time to time until about 3 years ago when I had to leave Grimmway. We updated each other about our kids and he always encouraged me when I’d complain about work. I am praying for your family. He will truly be missed. May God comfort you all in this time.
Sincerely,
Karrie Hardin
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