Voss Ph.D., Dr. Regis Dale

Dr. Regis Dale Voss Ph.D. passed away Nov. 3, 2010, at Waterford Assisted Living in Ames, Iowa. Regis fought a long, hard battle with cancer but was surrounded by his loved ones in his last hours. Services in Regis' remembrance will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on Lincoln Way, Ames. Visitation will be at St. Thomas on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 3:30 p.m., with a vigil service at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas. Interment of ashes will take place at a later date in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Regis was born Jan. 4, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to parents Frances and Valeria Voss. Regis graduated from Atkins (Iowa) High School in 1947. He then pursued his bachelor's degree at Iowa State University, where he was a member of the Farmhouse fraternity, graduating in 1952. After graduation he began service to the country in the U.S. Air Force, where he became a fighter and flew F-86 jets. He served as a First Lieutenant from 1952-1956. It was during this time that he became a local legend after flying his plane over and “buzzing” the town of Atkins, Iowa, where people are talking about it still, over 50 years later. His tour of duty took him abroad to Japan during the last days of the Korean War. Upon returning to the United States and receiving his honorable discharge, he continued his education and received his master'sdDegree at ISU and his doctorate in 1962.

On Nov. 24, 1956, Regis married Margaret “Mardi” Mitchell. They were both active members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ames, where they built many close relationships. Regis has been a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus as well as the Ames Kiwanis. He served as president of the local chapter of NARFE (National Retired Federal Employees Association.)

Regis retired professor emeritus in 1999 after 35 years as an agronomist at Iowa State University Extension. He played an integral part in what we see today in the production of corn and soybeans in the Midwest. He was added to the Marquis Who's Who in America in 2009 because of his outstanding service to agriculture. He was proud of his many accomplishments as an agronomist and would tell folks that he “spent the first 20 years of his career teaching farmers how to use fertilizers to increase their production, and the last 15 years telling them not to use so much.”

Regis was also very proud of his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all will fondly remember their Poppy.

Regis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one adult son, David James Voss; and his brother, Daniel Frances Voss.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Voss of Eldora, Iowa and Rockport, Texas; his daughter, Lori Voss-Siders of Story City, Iowa; his son, John Patrick Voss (Theri) of Zumbrota, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Rita Voss of Elgin, Neb.; nine grandchildren, Brianne Hyer, Jaylei Kolb, Rhea Voss, Thomas Voss, Jessie and Alexia Siders, Samantha Voss, Avery Voss and Abigail Voss; and four great-grandchildren.

For those wishing to make a memorial donation, Regis was a longtime supporter of the Friendship Ark of Ames and a donation may be made in his memory.