John David Imsande (1931-2017)

IMSANDE, BLANCHARD, ROHRBACH, DOERSCHUG, CEROVSKI, BRADEN, CHU

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/4/2017 at 10:23:13

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

John David Imsande, 85, died January 3, 2017 at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames, Iowa.

John was born June 14, 1931 in rural Grass Range, Montana. He was proud to say that he was born in the house that his mother and father built on his mother’s homestead. John was a graduate of the University of Montana. He served in the United States Army and then he received a M.S. at Montana State University and a Ph.D. at Duke University. He did postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley and Princeton University before accepting a position at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio. In 1969, John came to Iowa State University. He served as professor in the departments of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Agronomy. His most recent research focused on nitrogen and sulfur metabolism in soybeans. He retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus of Agronomy, Genetics and Cell Biology. He was not Iowa-born, but he was an Iowan by choice, residing in the state from 1969 until his death.

John and Elizabeth Blanchard Imsande were the parents of two treasured children, Carol Lynn and Louis Daniel. In 1976, John married Marcia Rohrbach Doerschug and instantly became a devoted father to Karen and Kevin Doerschug. During their forty years of marriage, John and Marcia traveled extensively, especially enjoying ancient civilizations in Cambodia, Thailand, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Americas.

John’s non-scientific persona included a skill in woodworking, an appreciation of fine art, a passion for playing bridge, and a penchant for writing poetry. He loved nature, especially the wildlife and natural beauty of Australia, where he spent two sabbaticals. He could be seen daily walking in Moore Park in Ames.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Freda Imsande and by his siblings, Evelyn Imsande Cerovski, Louis Imsande, Jr. and Donald Imsande. He is survived by his wife, Marcia; children, Carol (Larry) Braden of Powder Springs Ga., Louis (Deborah) Imsande of Johnson City Tenn., Karen (Edward) Chu of Overland Park, Kan. and Kevin (Lori) Doerschug of North Liberty, Iowa; as well as ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions celebrating John’s life may be made to Heartland Senior Services, 205 S. Walnut Ave., Ames, IA 50010 or the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation at www.inhf.org.

Service
Saturday 7 Jan 11:00 AM
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames
1015 N. Hyland Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50014

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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