Joseph Richard Songer (1926-2011)

SONGER, TURNER, EICHORN, BUNGERT, PARTRICH

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/7/2012 at 19:24:08

From Stevens Memorial Chapel obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Joseph Richard Songer
December 20, 1926 - October 20, 2011
Obituary

Joseph R. Songer was born December 20, 1926 in Charleston, WV and died on Thursday, October 20, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ura Songer, and brothers Paul and Ronnie. Joe earned a BS degree in biology from what is now Eastern Nazarene University and an MS in Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine from Iowa State. He spent his entire working career with the US Department of Agriculture, starting as a microbiologist and ending as Director of Environmental Health and Safety at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. He was a problem solver by nature and carried this into his work. Some of his innovations remain in use to this day.

Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bettie (Turner), his brother David (Dorothy) of Berkeley Springs, WV, his six children, Glenn (Pam) Songer, Heidi (Jeff) Eichorn, and Jenifer Bungert of Ames and Gretchen (Dan) Partrich of Olathe, Kansas, Jeff (Kris) Songer of Richmond, KY, and Joel Songer of Milwaukee, WI, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Joe was fun-loving throughout his life, and was literally a friend to all. He enjoyed a good joke, the cornier the better. His acts of kindness toward those in need are legion, and a dominating characteristic of his life was Christian ministry. In retirement, he and Bettie participated in many work and witness trips, sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene, to South America and Africa, where they built clinics, churches, and housing.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 28, 2011, at 11 a.m., at the Church of the Nazarene, South 2nd and Kellogg, in Ames. The family asks that, in lieu flowers, donations be made to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).

Condolences may be sent to www.stevensmemorialchapel.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Stevens Memorial Chapel, Ames, IA.

http://www.stevensmemorialchapel.com/
 

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