Robert Harza Burris

Robert Harza Burris, age 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Hebron Oaks, Oakwood Retirement Center in Madison, Wisconsin.   Robert was born April 13, 1914 in Brookings, South Dakota, the son of Edward and Mabel (Harza) Burris.   Robert's father was born in a sod house on the South Dakota prairie.   Robert grew up in Brookings, worked in his father's Print Shop and attended South Dakota State University where he earned his B.S. in Chemistry in 1936.   After graduation, he came to University of Wisconsin-Madison where he began his graduate studies with Professor Perry Wilson in the Department of Bacteriology.   He completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Bacteriology in 1940.   In 1940-1941, he was a Post Doctoral Fellow with Professor Harold Urey at Columbia University.   He returned to the University of Wisconsin in 1941, where he began as an Instructor in Bacteriology.   During World War II, he worked on the production of penicillin.   After the war, he joined the University of Wisconsin, Department of Biochemistry.   His research emphasis was in the area of Biological Nitrogen Fixation.   He was Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry from 1958 to 1970, after which he returned to research.   He enjoyed teaching and interacting with numerous graduate students from around the world.   He traveled throughout the world, sharing his agricultural and biochemical expertise.   Robert received many national and international awards and honors.   Some of his honors include: the National Medal of Science from the President of the United States, the Wolf Award in Agriculture, the Carty Award from the National Academy of Sciences, the Kenneth A. Spencer Award for outstanding achievement in Agricultural Chemistry, the Edward W. Browning Award in Agronomy, Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science from South Dakota State University, Honored Alumnus at University of Wisconsin.   He was a member of many scientific organizations including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.   He wrote more than 300 articles for scientific journals in the areas of: biological nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and plant respiration.   When he retired in 1984, he was honored as the W.H. Peterson and Hilldale Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry.   As an Emeritus, he remained active in his field until the age of 90.   He married Katherine Brusse on September 12, 1945 and they enjoyed 63 years together.   They lived in Shorewood Hills for 54 years, and he rode his bicycle to Biochemistry for most of those years.   Robert was a long time member of Christ Presbyterian Church.   His hobbies included: canoeing, gardening, jewelry making, and photography. Robert was preceded in death by his wife Katherine in 2008. Robert is survived by his three children: Jeanne (Ed) Eloranta of Mt. Horeb, WI, John (Sally) Burris of Raleigh, NC, Ellen (Mike) Heneghan of St. Cloud, MN. His five granddaughters, Jennifer (Dana) Olson, Margaret Burris, Mary Burris, Emily Heneghan-Kasoma (Zacharia Kasoma), and Katherine Heneghan and two great grandchildren, Max and Emma Olson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to: Robert & Katherine Burris Biochemistry Fund, Univ. of Wisconsin Foundation, US Bank Lock Box, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI   53278-0807 or Oakwood Foundation, 6201 Mineral Road, Madison, WI   53705 or HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI   53711 The family would like to especially thank the staff of Oakwood and Dane County Hospice for their compassionate care of Robert. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Oakwood Resurrection Chapel, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 11am.   A visitation with the family will begin at 10:00am until the time of the Service.   A private family inurnment will be held at Sunset Memory Gardens in Madison.