Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Clark R. Dickinson
Dr. Dickinson (UP '64), 71, Chesterfield, N.J., died Sept. 12, 2009. Prior to retirement in 2006, he practiced small animal medicine at Dickinson-McNeill Veterinary Clinic in Chesterfield with his wife, Dr. B.J. McNeill (UP '75). Dr. Dickinson is survived by his wife; a son; and a daughter. Memorials may be made to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014.
Gail H. Gilbert
Dr. Gilbert (COL '41), 90, Denver, died March 21, 2009. Before retiring in the late 1980s, he practiced large animal medicine in Arvada, Colo., also serving multiple terms as mayor of the city. Early in his career, Dr. Gilbert volunteered with the Peace Corps in Venezuela and taught veterinary surgery in Nairobi, Kenya. He served on the AVMA Judicial Council from 1960-1965. A past secretary of the Colorado VMA, Dr. Gilbert was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1961. His eight children survive him.
Marlyn K. Jacobsen
Dr. Jacobsen (ISU '57), 75, Zionsville, Ind., died Aug. 11, 2009. He was the founder of Zionsville Animal Hospital and a partner and past president of Michigan Road Animal Hospital in Indianapolis. Early in his career, Dr. Jacobsen owned a mixed animal practice in Williamsfield, Ill., and served as director of veterinary services for Armour Baldwin Laboratories in Omaha, Neb. A member of the Indiana and Central Indiana VMAs, he was a past president of the CIVMA.
Dr. Jacobsen is survived by his wife, Jamia; three sons; and two daughters. Memorials may be made to the MK Jacobsen DVM Pet Therapy Endowment Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Boone County, P.O. Box 92, Zionsville, IN 46077.
Elden C. Krantz
Dr. Krantz (OSU '43), 90, West Palm Beach, Fla., died April 12, 2009. From 1977 until retirement in 2003, he served as a relief veterinarian in Florida's Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade counties, including Miami. Earlier in his career, Dr. Krantz owned mixed animal practices in Ohio at New Philadelphia and Dover. A past president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board, he was a member of the Ohio, Florida, Stark County, and Broward County VMAs. Dr. Krantz was also a member of the Tuscarawas Valley Academy of Veterinary Medicine. His wife, Corrine, and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601.
Delbert A. Osguthorpe
Dr. Osguthorpe (COL '43), 88, Salt Lake City, died June 8, 2009. Prior to retirement, he owned a large animal practice in Holladay, Utah. Dr. Osguthorpe also owned a dairy farm and several ranches in the state. In 1967, he was instrumental in diagnosing the cause of death of thousands of sheep in Utah's Skull Valley, and the Army eventually admitted culpability, having conducted nerve gas tests in the area. Dr. Osguthorpe testified before Congress and helped recover damages for the ranchers.
In 1999, he received the Colorado State University Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award. For his efforts to preserve natural resources, Dr. Osguthorpe was the recipient of the Forest Landowner of the Year Award in 2004 from the Utah Association of Conservation Districts. In 2005, he was honored with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation Farm Stewardship Award.
Dr. Osguthorpe is survived by his wife, June; four daughters; and three sons.
C.E. Pilgreen Jr.
Dr. Pilgreen (AUB '50), 87, Brookhaven, Miss., died July 23, 2009. During his 48-year career, he owned a mixed animal practice and a small animal practice in Brookhaven. Dr. Pilgreen was a life member of the Mississippi VMA. His wife, Anita, and three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to St. Francis Church, 227 E. Cherokee St., Brookhaven, MS 39601; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
George H. Sheets Jr.
Dr. Sheets (IL '55), 79, Billings, Mont., died July 13, 2009. Prior to retirement in 1998, he worked for the Montana Department of Livestock. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sheets practiced in Miles City, Mont., for 25 years. His wife, Gail; a son; and three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics, P.O. Box 81033, Billings, MT 59101.
Robert L. Stear
Dr. Stear (COL '56), 83, Cambridge, Neb., died Aug. 8, 2009. He retired in 1989 as manager of academic affairs from Norden Laboratories in Lincoln, Neb. Following graduation, Dr. Stear practiced briefly in Lexington, Neb. He then established a mixed animal clinic in Holbrook, Neb., where he remained for almost 13 years. Dr. Stear next taught for two years at what was known as the University of Nebraska School of Technical Agriculture, where he helped develop the veterinary technology department. He then joined Norden as manager of veterinary services.
From 1970-1976, Dr. Stear represented District IX on the AVMA Executive Board. He served on what is now known as the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities from 1977-1980. Dr. Stear was a past president of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and the Nebraska VMA. He was also a member of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's Emergency Response Team. In 1983, Dr. Stear was named Nebraska VMA Veterinarian of the Year.
A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater from 1944-1946. Dr. Stear was a member of the American Legion and was active in the Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; three daughters; and two sons. Memorials toward Habitat for Humanity, The Gideons International, or Tri-Valley Medical Foundation may be made c/o Lockenour-Jones Mortuary, 604 Penn St., Cambridge, NE 69022.
Richard L. Torbeck
Dr. Torbeck (CAL '75), 66, Louisville, Ky., died Aug. 3, 2009. A diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, he was a professor of equine reproductive medicine at Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies. Earlier in his career, Dr. Torbeck taught equine reproduction at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, owned an equine practice in LaGrange, Ky., and served as an assistant editor in the AVMA Publications Division. He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Western Canadian Association of Equine Practitioners, and Society for Theriogenology.
Dr. Torbeck is survived by a son and a daughter. Memorials may be made to Ross University/Richard Torbeck Fund, c/o Ratterman Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40218.
David Van Meter Jr.
Dr. Van Meter (MSU '51), 86, New Haven, Ind., died Sept. 5, 2009. Prior to retirement in 1993, he owned a mixed animal practice in Albion, Ind. Earlier in his career, Dr. Van Meter practiced in Kentucky and in Wakarusa, Ind. He was past chair of the Indiana Board of Animal Health and helped establish the Humane Society of Noble County. A member of the Indiana VMA, Dr. Van Meter received the President's Award in 1981. Active in civic life, he served on the Albion Town Board and Noble County Council, and he was a member of the Albion Local Development Board and Albion Rotary Club.
Dr. Van Meter served in the Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion. His wife, Alvena, and four daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 4245 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46815; Noble County Community Foundation Van Meter Scholarship Fund, 1599 Lincoln Way S., Ligonier, IN 46767; or Humane Society of Noble County, 1305 Sherman St., P.O. Box 471, Kendallville, IN 46755.
Carl E. Venzke
Dr. Venzke (ISU '36), 95, Readlyn, Iowa, died Aug. 12, 2009. Prior to retirement in 2004, he owned a large animal practice in Readlyn. Early in his career, Dr. Venzke worked for Fort Dodge Laboratories in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was an Army veteran of World War II, attaining the rank of major. Dr. Venzke's wife, Ruth, and a son survive him.
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