Edward Hauser

Madison - Edward R Hauser, age 98 of Madison passed away on Monday September 8, 2014 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg. He was born on Aug 29, 1916 in LaCrosse, Wis. He was the son of Emil and Hattie Hauser. Ed left his father's dairy farm after high school to attend UW-Madison in 1934. As an undergraduate, he was a letterman on the 1936 wrestling team. He graduated with a BS in Animal Husbandry in 1938. He continued his studies at Oklahoma A&M securing the MS in 1939 where he studied the reproductive performance of sheep. He was then appointed Assistant Professor at Clemson College in South Carolina.

In 1943 he joined the US Navy, serving in World War II as a Ltjg on the USS Chincoteague. He was a veteran of the battles at Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

After the Navy he returned to Clemson as an Associate Professor in 1946. In 1947 he began his Ph.D work at the University of Missouri in reproductive physiology studying genetic control of boar development. In 1949 he became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Meat and Animal Science at UW-Madison. Early in his career, he was the head of the award-winning cattle judging team for the university. He went on to judge cattle all over the USA, including at the Chicago International. He subsequently abandoned the show ring, opting for a more scientific approach to genetic evaluation. His research studies focused on beef cattle reproduction and genetics. He performed groundbreaking research on the how genetics altered the effects of environment on efficiency of beef production. This research was conducted largely with identical twin cattle and involved a nationwide hunt for these animals at the start of every experiment. He subsequently did classic studies that, for the first time, demonstrated that photoperiod modified the processes leading to puberty and postpartum fertility in cattle. In the 1980s, he published two papers representing 30 years of work that characterized the biological factors affecting efficiency of the production of beef. This work anticipated the modern emphasis on producing food in a sustainable manner. Among his significant impacts on the beef industry was the first beef cattle performance testing program in the US, with on-the-farm testing in 1951 and bull testing in 1953. As part of this effort, he initiated the Wisconsin Cooperative Graded Feeder Cattle Sales. These activities had an immense impact on the purebred and commercial industries of the state. He rose through the ranks and retired in 1988 as professor emeritus, after serving as Chairman of the Department of Meat and Animal Science. As a professor for 39 years, he taught undergraduates the science of beef production. To his graduate students, he imparted the importance of the scientific method and the uncompromising search for truth. He was an outstanding mentor of graduate students and many followed him into academia.

He was an avid reader, especially interested in geology, history and science. He enjoyed weekly trips to the Lakeview branch library and farmers market, gardening, reading and card games with his great grandchildren and relatives.

After retiring from UW-Madison, he worked as a docent at the Swiss Historical Village in the New Glarus. He was the son of Swiss immigrants from Weidlisbach, Canton Bern. Raised on the dairy farm, he never forgot his Swiss roots or his love of animals and agriculture.

Ed is survived by his children; Richard Hauser and Patricia Hauser (Thomas) Robison; former wife Frances Marett Hauser; Grandson Wes (Jessica) Fleer; Granddaughters, Anna (Jesse) Teekell and Jaime Hauser; Four great grand-daughters, and five supportive nieces and nephews - Kathy, John, Scott, Anne and Chris.

Ed was preceded in death by sisters Betty Wittenborn and Lois Nelson, and brother Noel Hauser.

A private graveside service will be held at the Hauser family cemetery in Onalaska, Wisconsin at a future date.

Memorials may be given to the Swiss Historical Village, PO Box 745 New Glarus WI 53574 in honor of Ed.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Meriter hospital and Agrace Hospice for his care, and friends, nieces and nephews, and his former students that came from all over the country to pay tribute to the wonderful man that was our father. He was a man of integrity and purpose, always questioning and studying the world around him. He never strayed from his principals or independent philosophies. We were blessed to have him as our father, grandfather, teacher and friend.



http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/academics/pj-hansen