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George Kapusta Obituary
Dr. Kapusta was born Nov. 20, 1932, in Max, N.D., to Philip and Tena Kapusta, both of whom were immigrants from Ukraine.
He married Karen Susan Green of Minneapolis on Sept. 13, 1958.
She survives, as well as their four children, Daniel Kapusta and wife, Rubia, of New Orleans, Deborah Kapusta of Carbondale, Lynnette (Kapusta) Wright and husband, Jeff, of Tucson, Ariz., and Brenda (Kapusta) Csatlos and husband, Rich, of Houston; and six grandchildren.
His parents, two sisters and two brothers preceded his death.
Dr. Kapusta spent six years as a crops researcher with North Dakota State University and later spent 34 years with Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a professor of plant and soil sciences. During his tenure at SIUC, he initiated the Belleville Research Center, trained numerous undergraduate and 53 graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) students and conducted crop production and weed control research. He was honored by numerous state, national and international societies for his esteemed accomplishments in plant and soil science and weed control research.
Kapusta served in the U.S. Army artillery in the U.S. and Japan from 1954 to 1956.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2008, in Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale. Private graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale.
Memorials may be sent to the George Kapusta Endowed Graduate Assistantship, in care of the SIU Foundation, 1235 Douglas Drive, mail code 6805, Carbondale, IL 62901.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for George Kapusta
tara csatlos
July 13, 2019
I miss you everyday grandpa. I still remember the day my mom told me you passed. I can't believe you and grandma are really gone. Please come back..
Dale Chaney
April 28, 2008
The Kapusta Family,
I realize we've never met, but I wanted you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My wife and I were newly-weds when we moved to Carbondale in 1983 for graduate work with George. He took good care of us and employed Margie to type research reports to help us with extra cash.
George was one of the most honest, well respected, hard working, men I've ever known. He went out of his way to help those who were willing to work for success, and was always focused on making a difference; professionally and with his students.
He was a good man and he will be missed.
Sincerely,
Dale & Margie Chaney
Beth Bain - Helsley
April 11, 2008
Debbie & family.
My condolences. We spent some time together in that horrible place of the hospital with hopes that things would work out a better way. As you know I was there with you and spoke to you while my brother Jimmy was there. Unfortunately we both lost our loved ones. You are in my thoughts and thank you for coming to the funeral for my brother.
Sara Allen
April 10, 2008
My sympathies to Karen and the whole family ..... Like everyone else, George helped me get my first job with American Cyanamid right out of college but I wasn't even his graduate student! I truly enjoyed working with him thru those AmCy days. His dry sense of humor sometimes took me a minute to catch but he would always have that smile and twinkle in his eye as he waited for me to catch up. We would send Christmas cards and notes over the past years and also he would drop me a line out of the blue to congratulate me on this or that. Those small communications always meant alot to me. He was well known and respected over teh entire agriculture industry. He made the effort to develop an internship placement program that was unrivaled so he reached out to students at all levels also.
I was glad I went to the visitation last week and had the chance to meet and talk with his daughters. They shared their dad with us all those years and needed to know how much he meant to so many of us. The pictures on display at the visitation showed the precious moments enjoying his grandkids over the past few years. I hope they know how much he did for so many!
Bob Fisherkeller
April 4, 2008
Debbie, Karen, Lynette and Brenda... I had another SIU friend contact me with the news of George's passing. My thoughts are with all of you at this time. George was very good to me, and I am deeply appreciative. He had a positive impact on so many students, that influenced their experience at school and the direction of their careers. When I think of George, I think of a man who was extremely dedicated & hard working, but there was a wonderful humor and fun loving side that could take you by surprise at times.
I think of you all & will keep you in my prayers.
Sharon Duray
April 3, 2008
Dear Kapusta Family-
My deepest sympathies are with your family. Although I lost contact with George, he was often in my thoughts. The notice of his passing brought back a flood of good memories. Like so many others have said, he truly shaped the person I became. George was my like my father away from home. He was wise, thoughtful, fun and giving. I worked with George and other weed lovers in the early 80’s. He gently imparted his wisdom and work ethic on our numerous road trips from Carbondale to the BRC. Those lessons have lasted a lifetime and I will always be grateful for having the opportunity to know such a wonderful man.
Marc & Kass Bates
April 3, 2008
It was with great sadness that I learned of George's passing. Please accept Kass and my deepest sympathy to you and your family in your time of sorrow. I wish only I had taken the opportunity to let George know what an honor it was to have him as advisor, teacher, mentor and friend. His dedication to his graduate students and their successes are also his. His contribution to weed science and agriculture was a significant force in forever changing the face No-Till agriculture in America. Both are but two examples of George’s deep and lasting legacy. I will never forget George and all he has done for me professionally and personally. I will always treasure the time and the memories. God Bless you and your family.
Bob Stougaard
April 3, 2008
Dear Karen and family,
Of all the people who have had an influence in my life, George was one of the most pivotal. I am blessed to have known him and I am thankful that we continued to talk and maintain a friendship over these past 25 years. Please accept my condolences. He will be missed and remembered by many.
Patty Taylor
April 3, 2008
To the Kapusta Family:
My thoughts are with your family. I have many great memories of George as a researcher, a teacher, and a presenter at meetings. He was down to earth and could relate to the average person. George was instrumental in switching many Southern Illinois acres to NoTill thru education of the ag retailers and the farmers. I was an graduate student thru the University of Illinois extramural program with George as an advisor and a teacher of the weeds class. (George was a professor at SIU-C and at U of I.) I will always remember my oral review at U of I. I had reviewed all my classwork for a month before. George’s question to me was “What would you say to a customer that wants recommendations on organic production?” I was dumbfounded. I have no idea what my answer was. Agriculture will be forever changed for the better because of George Kapusta and his teachings to many current agricultural professionals in Southern Illinois and all over the United States. I’m so glad that I took the time last winter to correspond with George a couple of times and I will cherish the two page letter that he wrote back to me.
Terry Carmody
April 3, 2008
It was with great sadness that I learned of George's passing. You have my deepest sympathies. We had a lengthy phone visit a couple of months ago and what a flood of memories it triggered. There were several grad students under George's guidance in the late 70s that were treated like extended family. I'm sure you don't recall and I can't tell you how many times we ended up in your home for a 'social event' after a long week under George's mentoring eye. I can vividly remember many learning situations and conversations, all so very beneficial to me. What a great advisor, professional and frield. I will think of him often.
Mike Hellmer
April 3, 2008
Dear Karen & Family,
Lisa and my thoughts and prayers are with you. We want to express our deepest sympathies. Doc has had such a positive influence on our lives. If Doc had not taken me as a grad student in the late 80's, I am sure my professional career would of taken a less sucessful path. Lisa, our kids and I owe so much to George. He has allowed us to live a good life. My kids will know about George. He was a special person to many of us.
Rick Radliff
April 2, 2008
Karen and family,
I am only one of a long list of Doc's graduate students who owe their careers to him. Everyone knew that if you were one of his grad students, it could open many doors into our industry or academia. He influenced all, not as much by what he said, but by the way he conducted himself. He was the model of incredible work ethic, a superb listener and despite the temptation to take an easier approach...to tell or dictate, he did not. He more often helped us develop by asking good questions and debating an idea or approach versus telling...although when appropriate, he could do that well! He left a mark...one that is deep, wide and long-lasting across his chosen field and fraternity of work. Everyone witnessed the passion he had for helping...farmers, retailers, students, peers and even those he would never meet. I can still envision him on countless phone calls, answering questions or exchanging insight or personal experiences while in his office with walls lined with years of Weed Science Journals or sitting at the table looking out the east window of the house at the BRC after a long hot day in the sun, phone to his ear until 10 p.m. or later. He was a walking database of knowledge...delivered with his personal touch. George has left a legacy through his work, reflected in countless people whose lives he had a hand in making better, far better than he probably ever realized. I will miss him greatly.
Douglas Cochran
April 2, 2008
I am sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Debbie (Allen) Murphy
April 2, 2008
Debbie & Family;
You are in my thoughts & prayers during this difficult time. I will always remember his input & remarks as we were growing teenagers (always trying to justify our running with friends,sports,events). He was a great influence to many people during his time & left his mark in many lifes as a wonderful person.God Bless & be with you all during this time.
Kai Umeda
April 2, 2008
Dear Karen, Danny, Debbie, Lynnette, and Brenda:
I offer my condolences to all of you in your loss. Doc called a few months ago and he vividly recalled my arrival in Belleville on Memorial Day weekend of 1979 as he had me on a tractor as soon as I got out of my car. From that moment and for the next two years, Doc and all of you welcomed me into your home for many relaxing occasions squeezed in between his advisory sessions. I appreciated the opportunity that he gave me to get to SIU, of where I still reminiscence of so many pleasant memories and experiences. I will always be grateful to Doc for affording me, along with many other fellow grad students, highly respected and valued guidance into the practical world of weed science. Beyond weed science, Doc imparted wisdom and work ethic to many of us to become successful in our careers and personal lives and for that, we are indebted to him and will truly miss him.
Sincerely,
Kai Umeda
Gregory Chambers
April 2, 2008
Debbie and family,
Even though I cannot be with you in person, rest assured you are in my prayers.
Greg
Dr. Kapusta, Erin Chadbourne, and Mike Weber, Summer 1998
Erin Chadbourne
April 2, 2008
"Doc" Kapusta was an interesting character. I was his last female graduate student before his retirement almost ten years, ago. I have fond memories of Doc, a man with integrity, purpose, and a pack of GPC-menthol cigarettes. I will miss him and our annual phone conversations. My deepest sympathy goes to Dr. Kapusta's family and closes friends.
Jennifer (Landwehr)Vollmer
April 2, 2008
George was a major influencer on the direction I took in life. He was the only person I applied with for a masters, and despite my low undergraduate grade point he gave me a chance. I learned more from George than all my other teachers combined. He was also a good friend that has left me with a lot of fun memories from my time at SIU. I will never forgot how he would watch TV at the farm with my dog, Bear. Bear in George’s armchair with George uncomfortably on the bed. It still makes me laugh to remember George asking ‘Does he always sit in chairs like that?’ I had never seen the dog do that before – even Bear recognized the soft spot in George.
I am sorry for your loss. George’s life should definitely be celebrated. He will live on in our ‘good time’ memories.
Dan Zinck
April 2, 2008
Dear Karen and family,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Doc was a great teacher and mentor. At the time it seemed that he pushed us to put forth our best, but in hindsight he led us and therefore brought out our best. He deseves credit for my success and the success of his many students. I was priviledged to be "taken under his wing" in the late 80's. I will always cherish my time at the Belleville Research Center and the experience and knowledge I gained from Doc.
Scott Clem
April 2, 2008
Debbie, I am very sorry to hear of your father's passing. You and your family will be in my prayers during this difficult time.
Bryan Gentsch
April 2, 2008
Dear Karen, Family and Friends,
It was with great sadness I heard the news of George's passing. We had kept up a little over the years exchanging letters and phone calls several times last year. I am proud to say I worked for George as both a grunt summer worker at Belleville and later as a graduate student.
George opened doors and created opportunities for all of us and he will forever be a part of me as someone who molded and shaped who I am. Saying you worked for George carried weight in weed science circles, still does, and always will. I will miss him but never forget him.
Bryan Gentsch
Bryan Gentsch
April 1, 2008
Dear Karen, Family, and Friends of George,
I was privileged to work and study under Dr. Kapusta in the late 70's. In weed science circles saying you worked for George carried weight, and still does, for good reason. I owe George a debt that could never be repaid and believe all his former students feel the same way. George opened doors for us and created opportunities. George had a profound influence on me for which I will always be grateful.
Respectfully,
Bryan Gentsch
Patrick McGinnity
April 1, 2008
I just heard about George's passing today from Terry Carmody another of George's former grad students. It was hard to hear as I had spoke to him two months ago for the first time in over 20 years. I was a grad student of George's back in '77-78. My wife Lori worked for George in his lab and in the field so it was a family affair coming to SIU and working for George. We both will miss him very much but will cherish the memories. He is a man whom I was always proud to say was my advisor. He welcomed both Lori and me into his family and made my 2 years at SIU a lasting memory. I will always see him with a cup of coffee, a cigarette and a ag-chem hat as we drove to Bellville in the early morning hours. You will be missed George.
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