Obituary of Muhammad Reza-ul Karim

Muhammad Reza-ul (Raj) Karim, 83, Duluth, MN, died on Friday, October 8th, 2021, in Solvay Hospice House, Duluth, MN.

Raj was born in Noakhali, Bangladesh on November 1st, 1937 to Sikander and Mani (Begum) Karim. He received his Bachelor of Science with Honors in Microbiology from the University of Karachi, Pakistan in 1962. Raj came to the United States as an exile, where he had been arrested at a student protest against the military government raising college tuition. His father got him out of jail and then enrolled him in graduate school at the University of Minnesota where Raj completed his Master’s Degree in Veterinary Microbiology in 1966. He then proceeded to complete his Ph.D. from the University of Montana – Missoula in Microbiology.

Raj began his career path in administration, research and professor roles at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD in 1968 which led him to West Chester University, PA in 1985, to take on a Dean of Graduate Studies and Research opportunity. In 1989, he returned back to the Midwest to become the Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 1992, he returned back to his passions of teaching Microbiology and Viral Immunology, research, and advising students until his retirement in May of 2008. As a scientist, Raj’s research was in helicobacter pylori and HSV which led to patent work. Rather than just teaching his students Microbiology, Raj went above and beyond with his primary interest of making them exceptional human beings. He was extremely well known for being a strong advisor that led him to receive University of Minnesota’s John Tate Award for Academic Advising in 1999.

On February 2nd, 1967 he married Agnes O’Connell with whom he had two daughters, Sarah Karim-Alford and Allex Johnson. He married Mary Colleen Busby on June 11th, 1977 in Aberdeen, SD and had two additional daughters, Maryam Becker and Ayesha Karim Kessler. He will tell you his precious daughters were his biggest accomplishment.

When Raj had additional time outside of work and family, he loved the Minnesota Vikings and football, gardening, travel, and cooking Bangladeshi dishes that opened up his home to students on the weekends and holidays. Students always knew they had a meal on Saturday night to go to. He loved spending time with his dogs, and was known for bringing fruit to any occasion whether at the university at the end of exam week or to a function. Throughout his retirement he worked to build a Science Center in Noakhali, Bangladesh for girls to give them opportunity to adequate access to education.

Raj is survived by his wife of forty-four years, Mary, and four daughters: Allex (Scott) Johnson, Sarah (Aaron) Karim-Alford, Maryam (Jeff) Becker, and Ayesha (Jake) Karim Kessler; 6 grandchildren: Victoria Johnson, Sylvia Kitterman, Elizabeth Kitterman, Katelyn Alford, Anya Becker, and Nico Kessler; sisters-in-law: Sharon (Gene) Willgohs, Patricia Anderson, Linda Rydjord, Gail (Tom) Spillum, Jeri Sakrismo, Maureen (David) VanDenEinde and brothers-in-law: David Busby and Danny (Lori) Busby.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law; Roman Mullenbach and Loyal Busby; mother-in-law; Helen Mullenbach and Doloris Busby; brother; Zia-ul Karim; sisters: Dilruba Begum, Rani Begum; sister-in-law, Paula Wilson; brothers-in-law, Jerain “Jiggs” Anderson, Mike Rydjord, and Linn Sakrismo.

There will be a Celebration of Life in 2022. To receive updates on the event, sign the online guest book or to send condolences, please visit http://www.gatheringus.com. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Raj’s Memorial fund.