Advancing Economics, Transforming Lives

April 2009

Passages

The Department extends condolences to the family of Darrell Fienup, a former faculty member in the Department.

Obituary from Lansing State Journal

Darrell F. Fienup, age 82, died February 13, 2009. He was born in Shenandoah, Iowa on May 20, 1926 to Charles and Sophia Fienup. From a full-time farmer during WWII to earning his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Darrell held faculty positions at the University of Kentucky and the University of Minnesota. While there he accepted an offer to be part of a University/Ford Foundation project in Argentina, SA where he and his family resided for seven years. In 1973 he joined the MSU faculty and in 1975 joined the MSU project in Brazil to do further work in Agriculture Development. His international work continued through MSU in Nepal and later with the Kellogg Foundation/MSU in Africa, India, Thailand, Japan and Latin America. Retirement provided time to do conservation projects on his farms in Iowa as well as continuing his interest of farming. Darrell was always ready for a round of golf, another Elderhostel or yet another interesting place in the world to explore. Darrell is survived by his wife, Ruth, of 58 years, son Gregg Fienup (Lea) and daughter Sherrie Gould; eight grandchildren: Jeff Fienup (Lori), Michelle Fienup, Gabriel (Melissa), Jessica Fienup (fiance Billy), Jacob Fienup, Vanessa, Ryan and Trevor Gould: great-granddaughters, Sophia and Ava; niece, Nancy Berning (Steve); and nephew, Steve Fienup. Darrell was predeceased by his parents, brother Donald, sister-in-law Phyllis, daughter Gretchen Anne, and son Scott. He will always be remembered for his love and devotion to family. Burial took place in Shenandoah, Iowa.  A memorial service will be held at University Lutheran Church, 1020 South Harrison Rd., East Lansing, at 2:00 p.m. on April 18, 2009.

The family has requested contributions to the MSU AFRE Graduate Student Assistance Fund in lieu of flowers.  The fund is being established to provide short term financial assistance to current graduate students enrolled in MSU’s Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.  Persons interested in making a contribution to the fund should contact Jeremy Wittrock at wittrock@msu.edu or 517-353-4749.

Dr. Larry J. Connor, Dean Emeritus, University of Florida; Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University passed away on March 30, 2009. Dr. Connor served as Department Chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics prior to taking the Deanship at the University of Florida. He was surrounded by his family as he passed. He is survived by his wife, Dee Ann; daughter and son-in-law, Noelle and Alberto Franco; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Erika Holden; sister and brother-in-law, Donna and William Brosius; and four grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at University Lutheran Church, 1826 West University Avenue, Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 11, 2009.