Birth date: Apr 27, 1957 Death date: Nov 22, 2020
Dr. Terry Siebenmorgen passed to his eternal reward on November 22, 2020 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Terry was born to Anthony Justin Siebenmorgen and Benita Crescence Wewers Siebenmorgen. He grew up on a dairy fa Read Obituary
Although it has been four years, I just recently learned of Dr. Siebenmorgan’s death. He was so influential in my college and career path, and one of my favorite professors. I have such fond memories of him and the time I was in his classes. Much love to all of his family and friends.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
St Joseph Knights of Columbus
Fayetteville, Ar.
Patty, family members, colleagues and friends.
Sorrow fills my heart this sad moment, a sorrow that is deep and personal. Dr. Terry Siebenmorgen has silently closed the door of life and departed from us. Our lives will be empty in the areas that he had brightened for us.
Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.” In one word, Dr. Siebenmorgen was a man who gave. He gave much to his work, to Rice processing program at University of Arkansas. That is why I would like to speak in celebration of his life. Here was a life that demand notice….a life that exemplified brilliance…a life that inspired emulation…a life that burned so that others’ paths were lit.
I have known Dr. Siebenmorgen since 2009 when I joined the UARPP as a postdoctoral associate. Dr. Siebenmorgen was a strategic thinker, a visionary who was brilliant, innovative and creative. As such, he contributed much to the development of the Rice research Program and the Industry Alliance. He generously gave us his knowledge, his expertise, his skills and the most-valued memories of working with an exemplary genius.
I will remember you with all your special nuances and our memories from all the days gone before that I was privileged to share with you…RIP.
Dear Patty, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. Praying for comfort and peace for you and your family!
Sincerely,
Jamie Loftin
Dr. Terry Siebenmorgen has contributed immensely to my life. Eight years ago, an email written by me to him after reading a little bit of his work led to a Skype interview and subsequently my acceptance into the world-renowned University of Arkansas Rice Research Program. I am particularly thankful for my graduate assistantship that he offered me, without which I would not have been able to study here in the US.
Dr. Siebenmorgen has touched my life in many ways; thank you Dr. S for all that you have done for me. I will always reminisce our enjoyable conversations at work and during our long trips to rice country and conferences, excellent research, passion for rice that grew in me from your contagious passion...you are and will be missed dearly! And thank you so much for inculcating and improving my written skills. As many of you know, if Dr. S approved a manuscript, it was sure to be published, and reviews came back with hardly any or minor corrections!
Many many hugs to you Dr. Siebenmorgen! I will do what I can to make you proud. Thank you for all that you did for me! Lots of love!!
Patty, Justin and Ryan...sending tight hugs to you.
I first met Dr. Siebenmorgen in 1985, when I was a senior at the UA and President of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Initiates had to get signatures on boards and he and I had a discussion about that. My roommate was in some of his classes and the buzz around the college was of this new young professor in Ag Engineering that was lighting things up (sorry, I'm an electrical engineer - this is a good thing!).
I then had the pleasure of sitting down with Terry last year, 35 years later, as a colleague in the college faculty. I have to say, take everything you hear and read about him regarding his intellect, passion, work ethic, and kindness and multiply that by 10. He was an outstanding person and made those around him better. It was a great conversation we had together - about business and life. He was a fine example for us all.
I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and wish you all peace and comfort as time progresses. It is hard now, but he's with us as we think of him and let his example live on through our own lives. He's now in the comforting arms of the Lord and will never suffer again.
The service today was beautiful and so appropriate! I was so glad to be able to attend via the Facebook link.
I want to mention a few things about my relationship with Terry, mainly for the benefit of his sons. I came to UA in February 1985 as head of what was then the Agricultural Engineering Department where Terry had become a faculty member the year before. We shared the "Purdue PhD experience" albeit at different times, and we often discussed what was required to develop a world-class research program. We were both football fans as well and I believe we attended a few games together.
I left UA in 1992 for a position at another university. By the time I returned to UA in 1996 in another administrative position, Terry had moved to the Food Science Department, We had only occasional contact after that although we did get to visit in person a number of times after his illness was diagnosed.
One relationship that is especially dear to me was between Terry and my late brother David. The backdrop is that a faculty member in our department took a position at another university but had contracted for a significant research grant beforehand with a major equipment manufacturer that involved rice harvesting. Clearly, it was our Department's responsibility to fulfill the terms of this contract.
Even though this was a bit out of Terry's expertise or interest, he, being the responsible and visionary person he was, somewhat reluctantly took on this project. However, he was going to need help, especially since the site of this project was 300 miles away across the state at the Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser, AR. In one discussion with him about this project, I mentioned that my brother David (a PhD from Purdue in Agricultural Engineering in the Power & Machinery area who was farming in Cross County) would be an ideal partner but for obvious conflict-of-interest reasons, I would not be involved with any aspect of hiring David if indeed that is what Terry wanted to do.
But he did decide to hire David, and this was a research partnership proverbially "made in Heaven"! Together, they did great things that were of both theoretical and practical importance to rice farmers everywhere. Unfortunately, a year or two into this partnership, David was totally incapacitated by complications from a brown recluse spider bite and died a few years later.
One humorous story that came out of this partnership was that one day the head of UA's Division Agriculture (a classy individual I must add) called me about what he saw as an inappropriate expense Terry had claimed as part of this rice harvesting research project. I was told that Terry had claimed expenses for the purchase of numerous pizzas. I explained that Terry had so motivated the staff at the Research Center that they had agreed to work well into the evening to finish some time-sensitive data collection. Terry, being the thoughtful person he was, bought all the work crew pizza because they would have otherwise missed their evening meals. In my view, this purchase was not only appropriate but well worth the effort in that this gesture inspired everyone. Effectively, this explanation also inspired this Division of Agriculture leader! He told me something to the effect "I now fully understand and agree, but please tell Terry that next time he needs to call this expenditure something other than pizza!". And, I'm sure that Terry did!
I'll end with a personal note of appreciation. Terry came to the Agricultural Engineering Department when the Department was in great need for a "superstar" researcher. Arguably, the very future existence of the Department depended upon it. And, certainly not to my surprise, Terry came through "big time"! As his department head, rightly or wrongly, I got to benefit from his success and did the entire department - faculty, staff and students. Thank you Terry. I'll always appreciate all you did for me and so many others!
One of the kindest men I have ever met and a great family friend. He was a dedicated family man and a leader in his field. Pun intended. I am better for knowing him. My heart and prayers are with you, Siebenmorgans. God be with you.
May his soul rest in peace 🙏🙏 always.
Terry was a professional colleague and a friend for over 30 years. He will be cherished as a dedicated and diligent Agricultural Engineer who devoted his career to improving rice postharvest quality. He was a highly ethical, honest and family-oriented human being. His integrity, nobility and high morality is a role model. He will be gravely missed. May God Almighty grant Peace to his soul in Heaven and grant strength to his family and friends to cope with his premature departure from earth.
