Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
Denise W. Boriack
Dr. Boriack (Texas A&M '86), 56, Tomball, Texas, died April 16, 2017. She was a mixed animal veterinarian in Tomball, with a special interest in horses. Dr. Boriack is survived by her husband, Michael; five children; and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Widow's Fund, Homeschool Foundation, P.O. Box 1152, Purcellville, VA 20134, or Upbring Krause Children's Center, 8305 Cross Park Drive, Austin, TX 78754.
Gilbert R. Conklin
Dr. Conklin (Michigan State '71), 70, Cosby, Tennessee, died June 19, 2017. Following graduation, he practiced small animal medicine in Milwaukee; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Conklin later moved to Tennessee, where he served as medical director of the Dr. Carol Hood Memorial Animal Shelter in Newport.
He is survived by his brother. Memorials may be made to Liberty Church of Cosby, 3541 Cosby Highway, Cosby, TN 37722, or City of Newport Animal Control, 219 E. Main St., Newport TN 37821.
Jorgen Grymer
Dr. Grymer (Copenhagen '77), 66, Galten, Denmark, died March 1, 2017. He began his career in the United States as a member of the large animal faculty at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, Dr. Grymer co-invented the Grymer-Sterner toggle suture method of left displaced abomasum repair. In 1983, he left MSU to work in Saudi Arabia for two years as a large dairy herd practitioner, also gaining experience in camel medicine. Dr. Grymer later worked a year in Libya in the same capacity before returning to his native Denmark. He then established a mixed animal practice in Galten, where he worked for 25 years.
Dr. Grymer is survived by his wife, Anne Marie; a son; and a daughter. His daughter, Dr. Catherine Grymer (Copenhagen '15), is a veterinarian in Falun, Sweden. Dr. Grymer's late father and grandfather, Drs. Peter Grymer and Soren P. Sorenson, were graduates of the University of Copenhagen and practitioners in Galten.
Warren W. Kent Sr.
Dr. Kent (Auburn '52), 94, Birmingham, Alabama, died Jan. 17, 2017. He practiced small animal medicine in Birmingham for more than 50 years. Dr. Kent also served as veterinarian for the Birmingham Zoo. He was a past vice president of the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, a past president of the Alabama and Jefferson County VMAs, and a more than 20-year member of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Advisory Council. In 1981, Dr. Kent was named Alabama Veterinarian of the Year. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Air Force. Dr. Kent was a member of the Rotary Club.
He is survived by a son and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, 300 Snow Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209, or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.
Craig J. Mabray
Dr. Mabray (Tufts '83), 62, Albuquerque, New Mexico, died April 21, 2017. He was a canine and domestic feline expert with the Animal Care Program of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service since 2010. Prior to that, Dr. Mabray served as chief of veterinary services for the city of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department's municipal animal shelter. Early in his career, he was president of Tramway Animal Medical Center in Albuquerque and worked for VCA Wyoming Animal Hospital in Albuquerque. Dr. Mabray served on the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine for four years.
His wife, Karen; two sons; and two grandchildren survive him.
Samuel F. Muecke Jr.
Dr. Muecke (Texas A&M '69), 78, Wolfe City, Texas, died Feb. 19, 2017. He practiced mixed animal medicine in the Wolfe City area for several years. He is survived by three sons and four grandchildren.
Doris M. Oliveira
Dr. Oliveira (Tuskegee '61), 83, Tuskegee, Alabama, died May 1, 2017. She is survived by her son.
Thomas B. Owen Jr
Dr. Owen (Texas A&M '49), 91, Lufkin, Texas, died May 13, 2017. From 1963 until retirement in 1986, he worked for the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Prior to that, Dr. Owen lived in Sinton, where he farmed, owned a practice, and managed Owen Farm Supply.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps from 1944-1945. Dr. Owen was active with the Boy Scouts of America. His wife, Dorothy; two sons and a daughter; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lufkin, 607 Janeway Ave., Lufkin, TX 75904, or Alzheimer's Association, 304 N. Raguet, Suite C, Lufkin, TX 75904.
Harry F. Prussner
Dr. Prussner (Cornell '72), 70, Titusville, Florida, died June 5, 2017. He was in mixed animal practice in Florida's Brevard County since 2006. Prior to that, Dr. Prussner practiced in Greenville, New York, for 30 years. His wife, Gloria, survives him.
Memorials may be made to Parkway Animal Hospital, 5155 Port St. John Parkway, Cocoa, FL 32927.
J. Bruce Rankin
Dr. Rankin (Washington State '55), 87, Salem, Oregon, died Jan. 28, 2017. Following graduation, he served as a captain and base veterinarian with the Air Force in Delaware. Dr. Rankin moved to Salem in 1957 and joined his father, the late Dr. F.G. Rankin (Colorado State '28), in his small animal veterinary practice. In 1960, he established his own practice in Salem, working there until retirement. Dr. Rankin was a member of the Oregon VMA and served on the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board. His three daughters and five grandchildren survive him.
Memorials may be made to Willamette Humane Society, 4246 Turner Road SE, Salem, OR 97317.
Roger L. Siegert
Dr. Siegert (Iowa State '57), 85, Plymouth, Wisconsin, died June 7, 2017. Following graduation, he founded Plymouth Veterinary Center, where he initially practiced mixed animal medicine, focusing later on small animals until retirement.
Dr. Siegert was a past president of the Sheboygan County Fair and a member of the Plymouth Lions Club. He is survived by two sons, a daughter, four grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren.
Moise A. Waguespack Jr.
Dr. Waguespack (Texas A&M '55), 87, Bourg, Louisiana, died April 17, 2017. He worked for the Department of Agriculture prior to retirement. Dr. Waguespack served as a captain in the Air Force.
His daughter, son, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren survive him.
B.J. Woodruff
Dr. Woodruff (Auburn '60), 88, Scottsburg, Indiana, died May 27, 2017. Following graduation, he owned a small animal and equine practice in Scottsburg for 23 years. Dr. Woodruff subsequently moved to Palmer, Alaska, where he continued practicing, also managing a musk ox herd. A lifetime member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, he incorporated equine acupuncture into his practice and developed and marketed a horse feed.
Dr. Woodruff is survived by two sons and six grandchildren. One son, Dr. Arthur Woodruff (Purdue '82), owns Pet Housecalls in Bloomington, Indiana.
Wesley J. Zehr
Dr. Zehr (Illinois '59), 88, Goshen, Indiana, died July 7, 2017. A small animal veterinarian, he began his career practicing at Goshen Animal Clinic, later working at Milford Small Animal Clinic in Milford, Indiana, where he also performed diagnostics for local poultry farms. Dr. Zehr retired in 1992.
His three sons, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to College Mennonite Church Encircling Fund, 1900 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526, or Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202.