John F. Lussenhop

John Lussenhop passed away at his home in Sisters during the early morning hours of March 13, after a long illness.

He was born in Oak Park, Illinois and lived there for most of his life until moving to Central Oregon in 2005. He spent his entire career as a professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before he died, John chose these words to describe his life:

John was an ecologist who did research on how fungi, minute soil animals, and roots interacted in soil. John believed in research, in making research not only his profession, but his hobby and his aesthetic enjoyment as well. For this reason, he delighted in friends who also devoted their lives to research. John taught ecology for 34 years; hopefully he taught his many students well.

John was fortunate in finding his wife Martha, who loved him in spite of his work habits. How to raise two daughters was something of a mystery to John, but it turned out that teaching by example worked. He is proud of his daughters, and of his 40-year marriage.

John is survived by his mother, Sadie of Lombard, Illinois; wife, Martha of Sisters; brother, Charles of Menlo Park, California; two children: Erika of Portland, and Krista of Seattle; and 3 grandchildren: Kai, Sophia, and Koji. They will all miss him very much.

A service celebrating John's life will be held on May 30, at 4 p.m. at the Community Hall in Camp Sherman. In honor of John's passion for the study of ecology, consider sending donations to: University of Illinois at Chicago, Attention: Tom Lagen, Department of Biological Sciences, 845 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607. Memo: "Lussenhop Memorial Lecture." Donations will be directed toward establishing an annual soil ecology symposium in memory of John.