Herman E. Brockman

1934 - 2025

BORN

1934

DIED

2025

About

Florida State University Northwestern University

Herman Brockman Obituary

Herman E. Brockman

February 4, 1934 - April 8, 2025

Farm Boy Makes Good!

Herman Eldon Brockman -- farm boy, Distinguished Professor of Genetics at Illinois State University, and lover of trees, grammar, and Pogo -- died at home on April 8, 2025 in the presence of 25 family members, ranging in age from 90 years (his wife Marlene) to 3 weeks (great-grand-daughter Hina Marlene).

Herman was born in his family's farmhouse in rural Danforth, IL, in the same room that his father Fred had been born. As he wrote in the preface to his essay collection Trees I Have Known, "I loved being a farm boy and helping Dad in all the farm activities I could do at any given age. And I loved learning from Mother to notice and love the natural world." Herman helped his father with the many farm chores, including milking cows by hand. Later, as part of the local 4-H Club, and then in high school FFA, he continued his love of animal husbandry and farming.

After earning his B.A. from Blackburn College in 1956, he earned his M.S. from Northwestern University in 1957, and his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 1960. He was then awarded a 3-year post doctoral research fellowship in the Biology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

In 1963, Herman joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University where he taught and directed research for 13 Ph.D., 22 Master's, and numerous undergraduate students. Among the many awards and honors Herman earned over his professional life are:

- Environmental Mutagenesis Recognition Award from the Environmental Mutagen Society, 1982

- IL State University Distinguished Professor, 1982

- Outstanding Teacher Award from I.S.U., 1998

- Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, 2009

- Blackburn College Wall of Honor, 2016

But of these and many other honors, he was most proud of receiving the FFA (Future Farmers of America) Star State Farmer award in 1951.

After retiring from I.S.U. in 1998, Herman tended his small herd of cattle and wrote essays that he eventually collected in Trees I Have Known, which serves as an informal autobiography and is available at www.online-tribute.com/herman-brockman. On that site you may also leave the family your memories and rsvp for the Herman Brockman Memorial Tree Walk and Celebration of Life on August 30.

Memorial donations may be made to the Herman E. Brockman Fund at Illinois State University, or to the Aldo Leopold Foundation. You may also make a donation in Herman's name to an environmental or social justice organization of your choice.

Or you may simply remember Herman by indulging in one of his favorite treats: beer nuts, beer, tapioca pudding, chocolate ice cream, or his beloved black cows (aka root beer floats).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Pantagraph on May 25, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Herman Brockman

5 Entries

David Brusick

June 22, 2025

Herman was the ultimate mentor for me. His dedication to science and academic excellence has played a critical role in my 50 year career in genetics. I know he will be missed by all of the Illinois State University graduates he inspired as well as the members of his wonderful family. I am among the many who benefited enormously from his guidance.

David Townsend

June 9, 2025

Dr. Brockman was a gentleman scientist. His graduate level course on the historical evolution of Molecular Biology was the finest class I ever took. His ability to illuminate the development of the field with both depth and perspective left a lasting impression on me. Dr. Brockman also served on my dissertation committee, and one of my proudest moments came after my defense, when I was told that "Herman said that may have been the best defense he had ever seen". That compliment has stayed with me ever since.

John E. Gustafson

June 9, 2025

Dr. Brockman was the finest science lecturer I ever had during my undergraduate and graduate education. His teaching approach and passion for science and his love of all living things has continued to resonate with me my entire life. I am proud to state that I was the 26th speaker in the "Brockman Alumni Seminar Series in Genetics", and I display a remembrance plaque of this honor on my office wall. I hope the sense of his loss is replaced with the celebration of an incredibly dedicated science researcher and communicator, and a loving family man.

Linda Stemke Whitlow

May 26, 2025

So sorry to hear about Herman's death. He grew up about a mile from my house in Danforth and was a school mate of my brother, Gerald (Jerry) Stemke. While I didn't know Herman, I always heard about him from my brother & my husband knew him from Illinois State. I will pass the obituary on to him.

Linda Garbe

May 26, 2025

I never met Heman but came to know his through Cecilia Bunney, As a student at ISU I worked for her at the museum and then later cleaned her house. I believe one or two of his daughters also cleaned for her and became a wonderful supporter. Mrs. Bunney and Herman shared a love of trees and all things nature. She so valued her friendship with him and his family.Thinking of all of you.

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