Dr. Wayne Jacobs, ‘68, DVM, Fergus Falls, Minn., died on November 4, 2025. Dr. Jacobs grew up on his family’s farm outside of Fergus Falls. He showed cattle with 4-H and developed a lifelong passion for the animals, pursuing a degree in veterinary science at North Dakota State University before earning his DVM at the University of Minnesota CVM. From there, he worked in the dairy industry in California, and became a partner in a veterinarian practice in San Joaquin Valley. After retiring from that practice, Dr. Jacobs worked as a relief veterinarian in Barnesville, Minn. and discovered his love of caring for dogs and cats. He opened his second practice, the Barnesville Animal Care Clinic, in 1999, which still serves the area today.

Dr. Charles Schlotthauer, ‘57, DVM, Rochester, Minn. died on November 3, 2025. When he was growing up in Rochester, Dr. Schlotthauer’s father was the Mayo Clinic’s veterinarian and managed farms and research animals. After completing his own DVM at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Schlotthauer opened a veterinary practice in Pine Island, Minn., caring for animals on the area’s farms. In 1976, he sold his Pine Island practice and joined the Cascade Animal Hospital in Rochester, where he worked until he retired in 1998.

Dr. Edward Donald Halls, ‘66, DVM, Northfield, Minn., died on October 30, 2025. Dr. Halls grew up on the Halls family farm in Brooten, Minn., and was a lifelong member of the U.S. Military. He served in Heidelberg, Germany and in the Gulf War at Langley Air Force Base in Norfolk, Virginia, and was an Environmental Health Officer in the Minnesota Air National Guard for 17 years. He graduated from the CVM in 1962 and started his own practice in Granite Falls, Minn., before moving to Winsted and later Duluth,  took over ownership of the Miller Trunk Veterinary Clinic and served the community for 37 years. He was on call for the Duluth Zoo and taught at UMD after retirement, and volunteered through countless organizations in his community and abroad.

Dr. Richard "Dick" Harold Schultz, ‘61, DVM, PhD, Reese Creek, MT., died on October 13, 2025, at 93. Dr. Schultz was raised on dairy farms in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War. He earned a DVM and a PhD in Veterinary Obstetrics and Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota in the 1960s and became faculty at the U, teaching and researching large animal health and reproduction. He also worked in animal pharmaceuticals and genetics, in Delaware and Missouri, before retiring early, in 1993, as vice president of research and development at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., and focusing on consulting. He and his wife were avid travelers and took more than 15 international trips every year, including a year-long job and home exchange with a Norwegian veterinarian/family affiliated with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.

Dr. Wayne E. Barcus, ‘57, DVM, Menomonie, Wis., died on October 15, 2025, at 94. Dr. Barcus grew up on Little Island Lake, where his family built and ran Wildview Lodge. After two years at NDSU, Dr. Barcus started at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation Wayne worked for the state of Minnesota testing cattle out of the Princeton area, and later worked in a practice there.  Wayne and Colleen seized an opportunity to move to Menomonie, Wisconsin in 1960 to join a practice with his classmate, Jack Register. The two built a large, dairy-focused, mixed animal practice called the Menomonie Veterinary Clinic, where Dr. Barcus worked well into his 80s. He and his wife also started their own lake lodge, the  Cedar Cove Resort, on Red Cedar Lake in Barron County, and ran the resort for 48 years. 

David Weiss, ‘05, DVM, Manasquan, NJ., died on October 10, 2025. After earning his degree from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy, Weiss worked in several New Jersey pharmacies before realizing his dream of ownership with Ramtown Pharmacy in Howell, NJ. At 37, he followed his lifelong love of animals and began working as a veterinary technician. He enrolled at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts and completed his clinical rotations at the University of Minnesota. He founded Furry Friends Mobile Vet, in Brick Township, NJ., and then Furry Friends Veterinary Hospital. 

Dr. Vernon Knudson, ‘62, DVM, Cooperstown, ND., died January 17, 2025, at 91. Dr. Knudson was raised on a ranch south of Taylor, ND, and attended NDSU for two years before joining the army, where he was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX. From there, he attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Veterinary medicine in 1962, and joined the practice of Delbert Clark and Dr. Laverne Larson, in Cooperstown, ND, where he was a large animal veterinarian and practice bookkeeper. He was known for his expertise in equine health and behavior, and anyone who had a horse needing attention called him. He also enjoyed raising Black Angus cattle and helping friends and customers with their herds.

Dr. James "Jim" Allen, ‘78, DVM, Virginia Beach, Va., died on September 1, 2025, at 77. After serving his country with distinction as a member of the United States Marine Corps, he earned his DVM from the University of Minnesota, and spent his career helping and healing animals, earning the respect and admiration of both colleagues and clients alike. In retirement, Jim embraced new adventures, teaching English and traveling to Vietnam and Thailand, where he lived for three years. 

Dr. Mark Nelson, ‘72, DVM, Centuria, Wisc. died on August 3, 2025, at 77. Dr. Nelson had battled amyloidosis for two years. Dr. Nelson’s high school biology teacher introduced him to veterinary medicine as a potential career and he never looked back, getting his DVM at the University of Minnesota before starting his career working in Milltown, and built Interstate Veterinary Hospital in Centuria in 1975. Throughout his career, he treated dairy cattle and small animals. Outside of work, Dr. Nelson loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, trail riding, and working on his farm.