Chitralekha Edwin, ’85 PhD, Timonium, Md., died Oct. 16, 2025, at age 71. After coming to the U.S. to pursue her PhD at the University of Minnesota, Edwin completed a postdoctoral program in infectious diseases. Dedicated to research, she developed pioneering assays that laid the groundwork for diagnosing and understanding complex diseases. 

Stanley H. Kleven, ’65 DVM, ’70 PhD, Athens, Ga., died on Jan. 20, 2026, at age 85. In 1970, he moved to the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center at the University of Georgia, where he remained until partial retirement in 2006 and full retirement in 2008. He served as director of the PDRC and head of the Department of Avian Medicine from 1972 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 2003. Kleven is survived by his wife, Kathy; three children; and a granddaughter.

Stanley H. Kleven, ’65 DVM, ’70 PhD, Athens, Ga., died on Jan. 20, 2026, at age 85. In 1970, he moved to the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center at the University of Georgia, where he remained until partial retirement in 2006 and full retirement in 2008. He served as director of the PDRC and head of the Department of Avian Medicine from 1972 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 2003. Kleven is survived by his wife, Kathy; three children; and a granddaughter.

James Wilkus, ’68 DVM, ’75 MS, Kenyon, Minn. Wilkus spent the majority of his career from 1996 to 2016 as a senior economist for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington, D.C. He also ran an information technology business since starting his master’s degree program in 1972. 

James Wilkus, ’68 DVM, ’75 MS, Kenyon, Minn. Wilkus spent the majority of his career from 1996 to 2016 as a senior economist for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington, D.C. He also ran an information technology business since starting his master’s degree program in 1972. 

John Turnbull, ’59 DVM. He joined the La Crosse Veterinary Clinic in 1960 and became co-owner. Turnbull stayed and worked at the clinic until his retirement in 1992. 

Ricarda Kelso, ’89 DVM, Le Sueur, Minn., died on April 17, 2025, at age 64. Kelso took a job as a veterinarian at a mixed-practice veterinary clinic in Le Sueur and worked there until her retirement in 2023. Kelso is survived by her husband, Frank; their daughters, Erin and Muriel; and granddaughters, Veera and Claire. 

Roger Bergh, ’80 DVM, Duluth, Minn., died on Nov. 23, 2024, at age 70. After graduating from veterinary school, he began a veterinary house call service for dogs and cats. Bergh is survived by his wife, Jodi; daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel; sisters, Ellaine, Doris, and Dianne; and brothers, Ronald, Randy, and Ralph.

Patricia Sperling, ’86 DVM, Scranton, Penn., died on October 27, 2025, at age 66. After earning her DVM, she moved to Scranton and spent 12 years at a local practice before opening her own hospital. It was the first American Animal Hospital Association-accredited practice in the area, and she ran it for 38 years. Sperling is survived by her husband, David Wagner; her mother; eight siblings; many nieces and nephews; and her best friend.