Richard L. Kiesling

KIESLING, RICHARD L.

Richard Lorin Kiesling of Gainesville, Florida, passed away on July 15, 2009, surrounded by his family. He was born November 20, 1922 in Rockford, Illinois, where he graduated from high school in January, 1941. After graduation, he worked for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company for 18 months before entering the University of Wisconsin in 1942. He enlisted in the Army Reserve Corp on November 3, 1942, and was called to active duty in March of 1943. He saw military service in Europe and returned to the United States in May, 1946 where he reentered the University of Wisconsin. He married Frances Groth Mowers on June 22, 1947, in Belvidere, Illinois, and they moved to Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1949 with his B.S. in Plant Science and minors in Entomology and Agronomy. He continued his graduate education at Wisconsin in Plant Pathology, and received his M.S. in Plant Pathology in 1951, and his Ph. D. in 1952. From there Dr. Kiesling went to Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, where he held a position as Assistant Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology from 1952-57 and Associate Professor from 1957-60.

In 1960, Dr. Kiesling accepted the position of professor and Chairman of the newly-formed Plant Pathology Department at North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, North Dakota. His work at NDSU from 1960 until his retirement in 1988 defined his professional career. With strong support from the College of Agriculture, he worked to increase the depth and breadth of the research program, tripling the size of the Department during his tenure as Chair. While at NDSU, Dr. Kiesling was also active in University Governance as a member of the University Senate, Graduate Council, Graduate Faculty, and the Institute of Genetics. He was an active member of the American Phytopathological Society, and held the office of president in 1963 when he brought the annual meeting of the Society to Fargo, ND. He also was active in the Gateway Lions Club, Fargo, ND, and held offices as Newsletter Editor, President, and Secretary.

In 1990 he moved with his wife, Frances, to Gainesville, Florida where he continued to pursue his love of the outdoors through gardening and bird-watching in Florida's wildlands. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert Kiesling and William Kiesling. He is survived by his wife, Frances, four children, Faye Fjeldseth (Marvin), Moorhead, Minnesota, Gregory Mowers, Quilcene, Washington, Frances Kiesling (Sharon), Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Richard Kiesling (Kris), Roseville, Minnesota, and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009, at 11:00 A. M., in the chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143rd St. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, 7th FL, New York, NY 10014, or to www.audubon.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

WILLIAMS-THOMAS WESTAREA

(352) 376-7556