Donald Sage Robertson (1921-2016)

ROBERTSON, PLAYTER, SIDENSOL, ALEXANDER, SOMMERS, CRESSWELL, CIRAULO

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 1/1/2017 at 12:08:11

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Donald Sage Robertson was born June 27, 1921, to Milton S. Robertson and Helen (Playter) in Oakland, Calif. Donald served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. from July 1942 to February 1946. Donald and Roxana Ruth Sidensol were married September 13, 1942, in Campbell, Calif. Donald was Emeritus Professor of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at Iowa State University, retiring in 1991. He received his A.B. in 1947 from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 1951. Donald was a member of the Genetics Society of America; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; and received the Governor’s Science Award in 1984. He loved his work in genetics.

Outside of work he had a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and loved his family unconditionally. He was a long-time member of Christ Community Church in Ames. He loved to paint, doing landscapes and whatever his wife requested. He and Roxana worked closely with international students, and were sponsors for students through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Donald passed away at 95 years of age on December 24, 2016, at Bethany Manor in Story City.

Donald is survived by his wife, Roxana, of Story City; daughter, Leanne (Jerry) Alexander of Ames; four grandchildren, Jessica (Scott) Sommers of Mission Viejo, Calif., Laura Alexander of Minneapolis, Minn., John (Debbie) Alexander of Ankeny, and Sam Robertson of Ames; two great-grandchildren; his brother, William Robertson of Portland, Ore.; and his sisters, Charlotte Cresswell of Portland, Ore. and Margaret Ciraulo of Saratoga, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, William Robertson and Mark Robertson.

The family requests no flowers.

Memorials may be directed to International Students, Inc. at http://www.isionline.org or Christ Community Church, 5501 GW Carver Ave., Ames, IA 50010.

Burial will be privately held at Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Service
Sunday 8 Jan
3:00 PM
Christ Community Church
5501 GW Carver Ave.
Ames, Iowa 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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