Eric D. Kerr

OMAHA - Eric D. Kerr, 79, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after a long battle with lung disease.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Marie (Drury) Kerr. Eric is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Douglas Clark, and their four children (Cassandra, Mariah, Jacob and Molly), and daughter and son-in law Jole and David Sandblom.
Eric was born on Feb. 21, 1930, in a small Ozark rural community near Gipsy, Mo. He lived on the farm with his father and developed a passion for agriculture.
After high school, he was drafted and enlisted in the United States Navy where he served in the Korean War from 1951 through 1955 and was part of the construction battalion stationed in Trinidad.
After four years of service in the Navy, Eric returned to Missouri and attended the University of Missouri in Colombia, where he earned his bachelor of science degree and master of science degree. His passion for agriculture then took him to the University of Nebraska, where he earned a Ph.D. in plant sciences (plant pathology) with focus on nematodes. Upon graduation, he worked for the National Center of Pollution Control for a short time and then assumed a position as an extension plant pathologist with the USDA Nebraska Cooperative Extension office in western Nebraska, where he directed the establishment in 1968 of a diagnostic laboratory at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Station to detect diseases in plants.
During his 30-year career, Eric was very successful at researching, discovering, identifying and characterizing plant diseases and nematodes. He had numerous publications in various professional journals and local newspapers.
After moving to western Nebraska, Eric met Joyce Marie Drury, who he married in 1980. He not only found the love of his life but became the father of her two daughters, Robin and Jole, who he loved and raised as his own. Eric was a passionate man who took great pride in his family and professional career.
Eric completed all projects including hobbies with perfection. He greatly cherished the lifestyle available with a higher education and was always appreciative of the simple things in life.
A small, private celebration of life will be held by the family in upcoming weeks. Memorials may be sent to the University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68508 (in remembrance of Eric Kerr - Plant Pathology). Condolences or personal reflections can be sent to Eric's home address of 1835 N. 53rd St., Omaha, NE 68104 and to EricD.Kerr@gmail.com.