Dr. Ralph David "Dave' McQueen Obituary (1930 - 2018)

Dr. Ralph David "Dave" McQueen, D.V.M., 87, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2018, at Heritage Health, Normal, IL. Born in Robinson, IL on October 28, 1930 to Ferdinand and Faye McQueen, Dave is survived by brother Richard McQueen, St. Cloud, Florida and his sister Ann Stewart, Plainfield, Indiana. Dave and his wife June, who passed away May, 2015, raised and are survived by four adult children: Matt (Brenda) McQueen of Bloomington, IL, Beth (Tim) Kastner of Swansea, IL, Tom McQueen of Atlanta, GA, and Jack (Karen) McQueen of Bloomington, IL. Dave will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Andrew Kastner, Mountain View, CA, Megan Kastner, Champaign, IL, and Colin and Keira McQueen, Bloomington, IL. He graduated from University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954 prior to starting veterinary practice in McLean, IL. After several years in McLean, Dave entered the United States Air Force serving in the Veterinary Corps while stationed in Europe. After obtaining the rank of Captain, Dave completed his service and returned to the U of I to complete the veterinary PhD program and join their staff as a professor. Three years later he took a position as a professor of physiology at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1969 he returned to the U of I as a professor in the veterinary college, serving as as the coordinator for their continuing education program. As their full-time dairy extension veterinarian, Dave also worked both in the classroom and in the field - working with farmers throughout Illinois to improve their livestock practices. During his career he pioneered several new livestock production practices that included the development of software used by the majority of universities and dairy farming operations across the U.S. In 1992, his work was recognized nationally when he was named the "United States Extension Veterinarian of the Year." Upon retirement in 1993, Dave and June traveled widely and spent much of their free time with their adult children and grandchildren. Dave's favorite hobbies included fishing, gardening, camping and staying busy with home repair and maintenance projects. Dave was a lifelong learner with unbridled curiosity - inspiring the same in those around him. His family would like offer a special thanks to Dr. Daniel Marley as well as the staff at Luther Oaks and Heritage Health in Normal, IL. Funeral services will be private for immediate and extended family only and will take place at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL on April 7, 2018. A private family inurnment will be at a later date at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington, IL. In lieu of flowers the family suggest a charity of the donor's choice.