In Memoriam

John W. Doran

Dr. John W. Doran, Fellow of SSSA and ASA and former SSSA President, passed away peacefully on 30 Nov. 2022 at the age of 77. Raised in the suburbs of the Washington metropolitan area, Doran often escaped to the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia where he developed a strong connection to and appreciation for the natural world. The foundation of his scientific concepts was shaped in this environment and nurtured by several “people of the land,” most notably John’s father-in-law, George Tasker.

Doran’s education included degrees from the University of Maryland (B.S.), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (M.S.), and Cornell University (Ph.D.). Between graduate degrees, he served in the U.S. Army as a Medical Corpsman and Lab Technician at Fort Meade, MD and Mannheim, Germany. Doran’s entire research career was based in Lincoln, NE, with USDA-ARS as a Research Soil Scientist. There he sought to translate science into practice by creating tools and approaches for building soil health and sustainable agricultural practices that helped people flourish by partnering with, rather than attempting to control, the natural world. Doran’s accomplishments were many and global in scope, but perhaps his greatest was his ability to inspire others to understand how our fragile soil resources function within ecosystem boundaries, sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health.

Following retirement, Doran and his wife Janet developed and managed the Renewing Earth and Its People (REAP) Foundation. For more than 10 years, the REAP Foundation provided small grants to more than 60 students, scientists, and others to explore and address problems relating to world hunger, social justice, environmental stewardship, local food production, and sustainable development. Doran also served on many boards, including Community CROPS, Ten Thousand Villages, and Church of the Brethren Antelope Community Garden.

Memorials may be made to Tabitha Hospice, 4720 Randolph St., Lincoln, NE 68510 or Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 (please include the memo “In Memory of John Doran—Global Food Initiative”). A celebration of life is planned for this spring on the University of Nebraska East Campus.

Harold F. Reetz

ASA and CSSA Fellow Dr. Harold Reetz, Jr., 74, of Monticello, IL, passed away on 15 Aug. 2022. He was born in Watseka, IL, on 10 Mar. 1948 and grew up on his family farm in Milford. He earned a B.S. degree (Ag Science/Agronomy) from the University of Illinois and his graduate degrees from Purdue University (master’s in Crop Physiology and Ecology and Ph.D. in Crop Physiology and Ecology). Harold met his future wife Chris Kaiser at the University of Illinois, and they married on 25 Aug. 1973. 

Reetz’s career began at Purdue where he was associate professor in the agronomy department. He then spent 28 years with the International Plant Nutrition Institute (formerly Potash and Phosphate Institute) where he served as Midwest Directo before becoming President of the Foundation for Agronomic Research and Director of External Support until his retirement in 2010. Even in retirement, he continued to advise on agronomic practices with his consulting company, Reetz Agronomics LLC. He received ASA’s Agronomic Industry Award in 2000 and the Agronomic Service Award in 2008.

Reetz was highly regarded in his community, planting deep roots in Monticello through his children’s activities, serving many years as Boy Scout troop leader and 4-H club leader. He served on the Monticello School Board and the Illinois FFA Advisory Board. He was a Sunday school teacher and held leadership roles at Monticello United Methodist Church. 

Reetz is survived by Christine Reetz, his wife of nearly 49 years; his daughter Carrie (Doug) Walsh of Kansas City, MO; his sons Wes (Alisa) of Washington, IL, and Tony (Katie) of Tolono, IL; his sister Cheryl (Jim) Hasting of Hoopeston, IL; his sister-in-law Vicky Reetz; and his nine grandchildren. 

Memorials may be made to the Monticello United Methodist Church Building Fund.