Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Warren E. Bohnhoff
Dr. Bohnhoff (Iowa State ’58), 86, Morrison, Illinois, died Aug. 24, 2015. He practiced in Morrison and other areas of Whiteside County, serving in later years as a dairy nutritionist. Dr. Bohnhoff was an Army veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; a daughter and a son; two stepsons and two stepdaughters; 12 stepgrandchildren; and seven step–great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church, 601 N. Jackson St., Morrison, IL 61270.
James W. Carberry
Dr. Carberry (Iowa State ’57), 82, Iowa City, Iowa, died Oct. 9, 2015. He owned a large animal practice in Newhall, Iowa, prior to retirement. Dr. Carberry was a member of the Iowa VMA. He is survived by his wife, Coleen; nine children; and 13 grandchildren.
John A. Chapin
Dr. Chapin (Colorado State ’44), 93, Clinton, Missouri, died Aug. 21, 2015. He began his career as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps during World War II. Dr. Chapin subsequently practiced mixed animal medicine in the Clinton area for more than 30 years, retiring in 1978. In addition to his practice, he owned several businesses and was named Agri-Business Person of the Year in 1998 by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Chapin’s wife, Bettie; four daughters; a stepson and stepdaughter; five stepgrandchildren; and three step–great-grandchildren survive him.
Memorials may be made to the Dr. John A. Chapin Scholarship Fund, c/o Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 200 S. Main St., Clinton, MO 64735.
Larry J. Helzer
Dr. Helzer (Ohio State ’72), 70, Mount Vernon, Ohio, died Aug. 30, 2015. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Kokosing Valley Veterinary Clinic in Mount Vernon since 1972. At various times during his career, Dr. Helzer also had satellite practices in the state at Johnstown, Millersburg, and Dresden.
His wife, Linda; a son and a daughter; and two grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club, 10883 Cooper Road, Johnstown, OH 43031.
Abby J. Logie
Dr. Logie (Texas A&M ’41), 97, Springfield, Virginia, died Aug. 28, 2015. He worked for the Department of Agriculture prior to retirement. Dr. Logie is survived by three sons, 11 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
John E. McCormick
Dr. McCormick (Cornell ’49), 88, Cortez, Florida, died Aug. 16, 2015. He owned Amherst Small Animal Hospital in Snyder, New York, prior to retirement. Dr. McCormick was a past president of the Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Western New York VMA, and Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society. A member of the New York State VMS, he was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1977.
Dr. McCormick served in the Army during World War II. In retirement, he was a town commissioner for Longboat Key, Florida, for two years, and became a realtor. In 1990, Dr. McCormick was named Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four sons and a daughter; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Allen D. Nelson
Dr. Nelson (Texas A&M ’60), 84, Granbury, Texas, died Sept. 6, 2015. He was director of the Southwest region for the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service from 1990 until retirement. Dr. Nelson joined the FSIS shortly after graduation. During his career with the service, he served as an inspector-in-charge in El Dorado, Arkansas; directed the Arkansas Poultry Training Center in Springdale; served as the Southwestern region’s poultry staff officer in Dallas; was area supervisor in charge of meat inspection at plants in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and north-central Texas; and managed the Southwestern region’s meat inspection operations. From 1960-1965, Dr. Nelson also co-owned a large animal practice in De Queen, Arkansas. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Dr. Nelson’s wife, Miriam; a son and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren survive him.
Edwin M. Odor
Dr. Odor (Auburn ’67), 74, Tavares, Florida, died Aug. 21, 2015. Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Richmond, Kentucky, for 12 years. Dr. Odor later directed the Poultry Diagnostic Center at the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Lasher Laboratory for 20 years and served as Delaware state veterinarian. He was a diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Odor’s wife, Dora; two sons and a daughter; and three grandchildren survive him.
Eugene J. Palicke
Dr. Palicke (Michigan State ’65), 76, Shelby Township, Michigan, died July 12, 2015. A small animal practitioner, he was the founder of Troy Veterinary Hospital in Troy, Michigan, where he practiced for 30 years prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Palicke practiced in various parts of the state, including Grosse Pointe Park and Lincoln Park. He was a member of the Southeastern Michigan VMA. Dr. Palicke is survived by his wife, Linda; a daughter and two sons; and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Carl G. Sparling
Dr. Sparling (Ohio State ’62), 83, Cadiz, Ohio, died Aug. 17, 2015. He practiced mixed animal medicine in the Cadiz area for 30 years prior to retirement. In retirement, Dr. Sparling practiced part time in the Bellaire-Wheeling area of Ohio. He was a past Harris County commissioner and served as a volunteer firefighter. Dr. Sparling is survived by three sons and a daughter, 16 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Fulani Grazing Project (to help Nigerian cattle herdsmen), c/o International Child Care Ministries, 770 N. High School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46214.
John J. Updike
Dr. Updike (Ohio State ’46), 91, Muncie, Indiana, died Aug. 3, 2015. He owned a practice in Elwood, Indiana, prior to retirement in 1990. Dr. Updike was a past president of the Elwood Lions Club and a member of the Elks and Masonic lodges. He served in the Army during World War II. Dr. Updike’s two sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials toward First United Methodist Church or Elwood Lions Club Scholarship Fund may be made c/o Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home, 415 S. Anderson St., Elwood, IN 46036.
Michael D. Wallace
Dr. Wallace (Colorado State ’82), 59, Watertown, Minnesota, died Sept. 13, 2015. He was group director of U.S. veterinary operations for Zoetis in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since 2007. Dr. Wallace began his career practicing equine medicine in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He subsequently worked for Fort Dodge Laboratories in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Solvay Animal Health in San Diego before joining Zoetis in 2000 as an area veterinarian in Seattle. Dr. Wallace later served as a managing area veterinarian and directed Zoetis’ U.S. veterinary services. He is survived by his wife, Julie; four children; and four grandchildren.
Notify JAVMA of a death via a toll-free phone call to 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email to newsavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax to 847-925-9329.