Obituary: Dr. John Berthelsen

May 18, 2018 — 

The AASV was recently notified of the passing on February 22, 2018 of Dr. John Duane Berthelsen. Dr. Berthelsen was 86 years old and resided in Newton, Iowa. He was a 1971 charter member of the American Association of Swine Practitioners and served as AASP President in 1974.

Dr. Berthelsen earned his DVM in 1958 from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine followed in 1971 by a Master's of Science degree in Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, also from ISU. Following graduation, Dr. Berthelsen was an associate veterinarian in Coon Rapids, Iowa before moving to his hometown of Albion, Nebraska in 1960 to become co-owner in a mixed animal practice. From 1971 to 1974, he served as a swine extension veterinarian at ISU. After leaving ISU, he spent two years as a manager and resident veterinarian for a private hog confinement unit in Clear Lake, Iowa. In 1976, he joined Feed Fortifiers in Manson, Iowa as a Product Specialist where he remained for four years before accepting a position as a technical services veterinarian with GlaxoSmithKline. He retired from GlaxoSmithKline in 1991.

Dr. Berthelsen served his community as Board President, Deacon and member of four Lutheran churches, member of Kiwanis and Lions Club International, recruiter and workhorse of a multitude of Red Cross blood drives, deliverer of Meals on Wheels for 20 years, courier of ocular tissue for the Iowa Lions Eye Bank, and driver for Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of patients to many and varied medical appointments. He was also a project manager and craftsman volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and a U.S. Census-taker.

In addition to his leadership in AASP/AASV, his professional memberships included the American Veterinary Medical Association, Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association and Iowa Veterinary Medical Association. He was a member of the ISU Veterinary Medical Alumni Association from 1958 until his death. In 1987, he served as an Ambassador for the Christian Veterinary Mission in Bolivia. In addition, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He enjoyed his family (the 2 and 4 legged), humor, flying (achieving his private and commercial pilot's licenses), elk hunting, woodworking, mowing their 3-acre yard and gardening. He has been described as a humble, generous, loving and sometimes mischievous man; the quintessential "Gentle Doctor."

Memorials can be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind (founded by the Lions Club), 1039 S. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307-3115.