Homer Theodore Erickson

Dr. Homer Theodore Erickson, devoted husband to Carolyn for seventy years, passed away at 100 years of age on October 23, 2025. He was a soldier, scientist, horticulturist, ornithologist, and raconteur - admired and loved by all who knew him.

After receiving his Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Homer joined the Horticulture staff of the University of Maine. In 1956, he was lured away by Purdue University's Horticulture Department, where he rose through the ranks to Professor and served as Head of the Department from 1967 to 1975. He led the department through a period of growth with quiet efficiency and compassion. His work at Purdue centered on plant breeding and genetics, and he retired in 1992.

During his career at Purdue, Homer was chosen to participate in the Purdue–Brazil Project, helping establish the graduate program at the Rural University of Minas Gerais, later the Federal University of Viçosa. He and Carolyn spent several years in Brazil and a later sabbatical in Zaragoza, Spain, becoming fluent in Portuguese and forming lifelong friendships. In Brazil, he helped found the Society of Olericulture (Vegetables) and mentored many graduate students who went on to successful careers of their own.

Homer proudly served his country in World War II with the U.S. Army's 88th Infantry Division in Italy. He returned to Italy many times later, enjoying conversations with locals and seeing the world not as a tourist but as a friend.

Born to Elmer and Luella (Thorson) Erickson on March 3, 1925, Homer grew up on the Erickson family farm in Lessor, Wisconsin - land that has remained in the family for four generations. He later purchased the farm from his father, allowing his parents to remain there comfortably through their retirement. That same farm became the heart of many family reunions hosted by Homer and Carolyn - gatherings that have long been the glue holding generations of the Erickson family together.

From an early age, Homer had a deep love for the natural world. As a Master Birder he could recognize birds by sound alone and took part in Audubon bird counts for decades. He collected butterflies, studied native plants, and spent countless hours outdoors. A true naturalist at heart, Homer found joy in both distant adventures and the beauty of home - whether talking with villagers on his travels or watching a woodpecker in his backyard. His front-yard zinnia garden was a neighborhood landmark and even earned a City Beautification Award.

Homer's love of learning and curiosity about the world extended beyond the classroom. Together, he and Carolyn shared their love of travel with their children - opening their eyes to other cultures and ways of life. That early exposure shaped his children's lives, and today two of them live overseas, carrying forward his spirit of openness and understanding.

At home, Homer and Carolyn filled their days with simple joys - endless games of Scrabble (often with impressively high scores) and card games with friends and family. Their humor, intelligence, and companionship kept them both mentally engaged and deeply connected throughout their seventy years together. Even near the end of his life, Homer remained intellectually curious; just four weeks before his passing, he was reading a technical journal and discussing it with family.

Though he and Carolyn enjoyed traveling the world, Homer was always happiest when surrounded by family or enjoying the quiet of his backyard in West Lafayette or at the family farm. He was a loyal member of the Lafayette Optimist Club, where he helped sell Christmas trees each winter, as well as an active supporter of NICHES Land Trust and West Lafayette Tree Friends - reflecting his enduring commitment to community and conservation.

Homer is survived by his devoted wife of seventy years, Carolyn June (Cochran) Erickson; his four children, Ann (Fady) Khayat of Beirut, Lebanon; Jean Ensell of Leamington Spa, England; Charles (Patricia) Erickson of Fortville, Indiana; and Neal Erickson of West Lafayette, Indiana; as well as eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his three brothers, Clarence, Leonard, and Luther; and parents,

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am Thursday October 30, 2025, with Pastor Scott Ludford at the family cemetery, Our Savior Lutheran Cemetery near Lessor, Wisconsin. Homer will be laid to rest beside three prior generations of Ericksons, including Erick Olsen, the Norwegian immigrant whose name the family proudly carries.