David Spong, ’65 DVM, Chanhassen, Minn., died on May 31, 2024. In Spong’s nearly six-decade veterinary career, he served as owner and veterinarian at Hopkins Pet Hospital in Hopkins, Minn., for more than 45 of those years. 

James Larson, ’68 DVM, Princeton, Minn., died on November 9, 2024, at age 80. Larson practiced as a veterinarian for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, bicycling, participating in triathlons, and playing accordion. Larson is survived by his sons, Patrick, John, and Jeffrey; daughter, Mary; one grandson; two sisters; one brother; and many nieces and nephews.

David Garlie, ’65 DVM, Northfield, Minn., died on Dec. 15, 2024, at age 83. Upon graduating, Garlie returned to Northfield to continue the practice started by his father. He spent the remainder of his veterinary career there until his retirement in 2017. Garlie is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; four children; eight grandchildren; one brother; two sisters; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

William “Bill” Doc Magee, ’63 DVM, Valley City, N.D., December 4, 2024, at age 86. Over the course of 37 years, Magee practiced medicine in Minnesota and North Dakota, taking his first job in Duluth before moving to Jamestown, N.D., and then settling down and practicing in nearby Valley City. Magee is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marion; four children; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers; two sisters; one brother-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Howard A. Weyker, ’64 DVM, Sebastopol, Calif., died Nov. 27, 2024, at age 84. Weyker established a small animal practice in southern California. He would later relocate to rural Sonoma County where he would do relief work for area veterinarians. Howard is survived by his wife, Joycelyn; three children; five grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; one brother; one sister-in-law; three aunts; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Kenneth Greiner, ’67 DVM, Alexandria, Minn., died on Nov. 30, 2024, at age 83. Greiner practiced veterinary medicine for 50 years in Elbow Lake, Minn. During his career, he was president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association from 1987–1988 and received the Minnesota Veterinarian of the Year award in 1989. Greiner is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pamla; two children; one grandchild; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, one sister-in-law; two brothers; two brothers-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Darrel Johnson, ’57 DVM, Marshfield, Wis., died on October 28, 2024, at age 92. Johnson began his veterinary career in a private dairy practice in Manawa, Wis., where he soon became an owner and partner. The practice expanded to the small town of Weyauwega in 1960 where Darrel became a senior member of a group practice known as Dairyland Animal Health. He practiced in Weyauwega until his retirement in 1993. Johnson is survived by his four children, two grandsons, two sisters-in-law, and numerous cherished nephews and nieces.

Melvin F. Kirchhoff, ’57 DVM, Kenyon, Minn., died on Oct. 22, 2024, at age 91. Following graduation, Kirchhoff was employed by the federal Animal Research Service and stationed in South Dakota. In 1958, he joined the Kenyon Veterinary Clinic and saw large and small animal patients there until his retirement in 1991. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Kayo; three sons; and four grandchildren.

David Polzin, DVM, ’81 PhD, DACVIM, St. Paul, died on September 25, 2024, at age 72. During his 54-year academic career as a professor and division head of Internal Medicine at the University of Minnesota, he was celebrated as a world-renowned veterinary nephrologist and authored more than 200 papers, reviews, abstracts, editorials, books, and book chapters. Polzin also was a founding member of the International Renal Interest Society and was instrumental in the creation of the newly recognized American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology. He is survived by his wife, Brenda; his daughters, Kelsey, Cathy, and Christine; sons, Elliot and Brian; his brother, Chris; and eight grandchildren.