Douglas Delray Post

1938 - 2011

Douglas Delray Post died Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at Marshfield Hospital, of complications arising from acute pancreatitis. Born Dec. 11, 1938, in Canton, Ill. Delray, as he was known to family and friends, graduated from Rushville High School in Rushville, Ill., in 1956. To earn money for college, Delray spent his summers working as a ranch hand at the Charlie Burton Ranch in the heart of the Sandhills region of Neb., near Bingham, from 1955 to 1960, a period and place that shaped his heartfelt love of the American West and no-nonsense perspective on life. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., in 1960, and earned a Master of Science degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Biology in 1970, from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He conducted pioneering field-based research on sympatric speciation that led to the identification of a new frog species, the Plains Leopard Frog, the Latin name of which he assigned in honor of one of his biology professors. Doug served as a professor in the Biology Department at UW-Stevens Point from 1969, until his retirement in 2006, when he was awarded emeritus status. He was an inspiration to many of the hundreds of students that enrolled in his classes, especially his field biology classes based in Wyoming and the Desert Southwest. Teaching was a lifelong passion to which Doug devoted himself tirelessly. He enjoyed tending to his sheep, vegetable gardens, flowering plants, honey bees, and hummingbirds; loved exploring the woods around his house; and took great pride in hearing about the many exploits of his children and grandchildren. His family and friends will always remember him for his incisive wisdom, hunger for knowledge, passion for reading, adamant non-conformist approach to life, sense of humor, love of nature, and tender compassion for those he loved. His stories were always interesting, often humorous, and occasionally believable.

He is survived by his mother, Velma Post, Rushville, Ill.; brother, Delbert Post (Liz), Tampa, Fla.; sister, Marsha Post, Philmont, N.Y.; ex-wife, Janice Ronchetto, Stevens Point; fiancée, Judy Ratkowski, Plover; daughter, Debora Post (Thom Walsh), Rosholt; son, Eric Post (Pernille Boving), State College, Pa.; six grandchildren, Geoffrey Yenter (Afton Otto), Tyler Yenter, Lindsay Yenter, Mason Post, Phoebe Post, and Boochie Post; and one great-grandson, Calvin Yenter.

He was preceded in death by his father, Marshall Stephen Post.

A visitation will begin at Shuda Funeral Home, Stevens Point, Friday at 10 a.m., Nov. 4, followed by a memorial service beginning at noon of the same day. Condolences may be left online at shudafuneral.com.