Don Van Houweling Obituary

March 7, 2012 — 

Dr. Cornelius Donald (Don) Van Houweling, an Ames, Iowa resident died February 23, 2012. He was 93.

Don received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1942. His veterinary career began with a mixed practice in Springfield, Illinois. He then served in the Army Veterinary Corps during WW II. He held leadership positions at the Illinois Farm Bureau and was Assistant Executive Secretary for the American Veterinary Medical Association in Chicago, IL. He was an instructor at the University of Illinois for a short time before being invited to Washington DC (1954) to become the Assistant Director of Regulatory Programs (now USDA APHIS:Veterinary Services). In 1961, he went to the newly opened USDA National Animal Disease Lab, in Ames Iowa, as Assistant Director of Regulatory Laboratories completing his MS in Veterinary Microbiology at Iowa State in 1966.

He returned to the DC area as Director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration in 1967. Retiring from federal service in 1978, he became the first governmental liaison for the National Pork Producers; what he called “his happiest time”. He was the first of many veterinarians hired by what is now the NPPC.

He received many distinguished service awards including ISU’s Stange Award and AVMA’s Gold-Headed-Cane Award for service in public health.

The VanHouweling Rabies laboratory stands in Dumaguete Ciy, Philippines as a tribute to his generosity. He was generous with his time, wisdom and assistance and always shared words of encouragement. He cultivated loyal and enduring friendships and will leave a void in multiple lives with his absence. He viewed all of his professional positions as opportunities for Christian service. After a hard day in the office and a two hour commute home, he regularly visited local prisoners to provide support and encouragement. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan rarely missing any basketball or football games. Most of all, he relished the gathering of all his family and observing their boisterous, friendly banter! His wife 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 5 plus great-grandchildren will miss him dearly.