Kucera, Clair Leonard

Clair Leonard Kucera, 91, died Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Columbia, Mo. He was a retired professor of Ecology at the University of Missouri. Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbia, Mo.

Dr. Kucera was the son of Emma Krafka Kucera and Charles J. Kucera. The family moved to a farm near Parcel when he was eight. He graduated from Parnell High School in 1940. He then entered Iowa State University in Ames. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Army in 1943, attended officer training school in Oklahoma, and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Clair was attached to the 660 Field Artillery as forward observer, and discharged from the Army in 1946.

He returned to ISU on the GI Bill and married his sweetheart, Elizabeth Tremmel. In 1947 he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry. He completed his studies at ISU with a Doctorate in Plant Ecology. He accepted a faculty position at the University of Missouri in 1950 as its first ecology professor. He was an internationally recognized authority in the ecology of tall grasses and prairies. He published 60 articles and four books. “The Grasses of Missouri” has become standard taxonomic treatise and “The Challenge of Ecology”, published in English and Spanish, is used as a textbook in many countries.

His international reputation led to speaking invitations and he was a consultant across the globe, in South and Central America, Europe and Africa.

He climbed Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, and often talked of trying to climb it again.

He served as a mentor for 30 graduate students. From 1960-1963 he was Chairman of the Department of Botany. In 1990 Clair was honored when he was selected as one of only 10 MU Sesquicentennial Emeritus Professors.

Clair identified a tract of native virgin prairie known as Tucker Prairie. He was instrumental in acquiring it for the university. More research on grassland ecology has been conducted on Tucker Prairie than any other in the Midwest.

Clair was a beloved husband of Elizabeth; loving father to his children, Ron, Kim, and Carol of Columbia, and Gary of Madison, Ala. He was also a loving grandfather to Christian, Matthew and Megan.

He will be missed by his brother Bob, Marion; and sisters, Dorothy Donahue, Holbrook, Iowa, Mary Davin, Iowa City, and Elaine Corrigan, Cedar Rapids. He also will be missed by his many students and colleagues at the university.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Missouri Prairie Foundation, online or c/o Martinsburg Bank, P.O. Box 856, Mexico, MO 65265.

Online condolences may be left for the family at heartlandcremation.com.

Published Aug. 17, 2013, in The Gazette