Jerome Schmidt, ’65 DVM, Pulaski, Wis., died on Jan. 1, 2023, at age 86. After graduation, Schmidt established a veterinary practice in Edgar, Wis., and worked there until he retired in 1991. Called back to veterinary medicine, he began a small animal mobile practice and operated it until 2017. Schmidt is survived by his wife, Karen; three children; six grandchildren; a brother; two sisters; a sister-in-law; brother-in-law; and many nephews and nieces.

Kenneth H. Johnson, '60 DVM, '65 PhD, St. Anthony, Minn., died on Jan. 31, 2023, at age 86. Upon graduating from veterinary school, Johnson joined the UMN faculty and served as the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology chair from 1976 to 1983. He retired in 1998 after 33 years at the University and gaining prominence in conducting research in the field of amyloidosis as well as in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Johnson is survived by his wife, Jean; their two sons and daughter; and their grandson.

R. George Lyon, ’53 DVM, Pelican Rapids, Minn., died on June 15, 2017, at age 89. He owned and operated Lyon Animal Clinic for many years. Following the sale of his practice in Pelican Rapids, he moved to Princeton, Minn., and worked as a veterinarian there until he retired. Lyon is survived by his son, daughter, four grandsons, granddaughter, 10 great-grandchildren, his brother, and numerous nieces and nephews.

George Walters, ’59 DVM, passed away on Oct. 5, 2019.

Elroy Hexum, ’57 DVM, Pelican Rapids, Minn., died on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at age 89. Hexum moved to Pelican Rapids and worked as a veterinarian for more than 40 years. He also was involved with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. Hexum is survived by his two daughters and son, seven grandchildren, his sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Peter Franz, ’59 DVM, Edina, Minn., died on Oct. 23, 2022. He practiced veterinary medicine in Austin, Minn., focusing on large animals. An illness forced him to stop practicing and the family relocated to Edina where he worked for International Multifoods, Zinpro, and subsequently started Tech-Mix. He is survived by his wife, Marion; four children; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Douglas LeMay, ’87 DVM, Roseville, Minn., died on Oct. 3, 2022, at age 62. LeMay owned Family Animal Hospital in Fridley, MN for 20 years. He was also a certified small animal hospice provider with his own home visit practice, Pet Hospice MN. Lemay also spent nearly 20 years as a volunteer firefighter for Falcon Heights, Minn. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; three sons; his mother; two brothers; and aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. 

Tamara Cherney, ’83 DVM, Madison, Wis., died on Jan. 15, 2023, at age 69. Cherney worked as a large animal veterinarian, caring for horses and farm animals. In 1998, she began her long-time position providing expert care as a small animal veterinarian at the Middleton Veterinary Hospital in Middleton, Wis. Cherney is survived by her husband, Alan; two sisters; three nieces; two nephews; her stepdaughter; and two stepsons.

Gerald F. Brancich, ‘66 DVM, Winona, Minn., died Nov. 14, 2022, at age 80. Brancich joined Blue Cross Small Animal hospital in Minneapolis after graduation. He served overseas in the U.S. Air Force as a senior veterinary medical officer in Turkey. After finishing his assignment overseas and spending a year in Arizona, He opened the Itasca Pet Hospital in Grand Rapids, Minn., in 1970. He ran the practice until 1984 when he moved to Winona, Minn, to take a job with the USDA. Brancich is survived by his wife, Alice; four children; four grandchildren; and a sister.