Remembering Dr. Bob Morrison

Robert Barclay Morrison, of Roseville, MN, died tragically in an automobile accident on May 2, 2017 at age 64 while traveling in the Czech Republic. He is survived by wife Jeanie Morrison, three children, Jessie (Eric) Bain, Peter (Eva) Morrison, and William Morrison, and grandson Ian Bain; sister, Mary Walker and children, Hilary, Cameron, D’Arcy, Andy and brother, Sandy (Juliette) Morrison and children, Jeremy and Jamille.

Robert (Bob) was born February 21, 1953 in Calgary, then moved to Montreal where he spent his childhood years. His family moved to Saskatchewan where he attended high school and the University of Saskatchewan (B.S., Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine). As a young veterinarian, Bob traveled by bicycle across Europe until landing in a small German town where he immersed himself as the local veterinarian. His love of travel, driven by a desire to learn and understand the world and people around him, continued throughout his life and aided him in becoming a global expert in Veterinary Population Medicine with a focus on swine health.

Bob moved to Minnesota in 1981 to teach and study at the University of Minnesota (PhD, MBA). Here he met his wife and love of his life, Jeanie, who was his nurse while he recovered from knee surgery. Shortly after marrying, Bob and Jeanie moved with daughter Jessie to Colombia where Bob worked for the United Nations. He returned to Minnesota in 1986 to begin his tenure as Faculty in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Bob cherished his time teaching and mentoring veterinary graduate and undergraduate students for the duration of his life. Bob was a brilliant data scientist and leader in his industry; he guided responsible vaccination and antibiotic use domestically and globally, responded to outbreaks and pandemics, and advocated for safe and ethical pork production.

A man of the utmost integrity, Bob was a beloved father, husband, uncle, father-in-law, brother-in-law, grandpa and friend. He was honest, hard-working, loyal, open-minded, grateful, genuine and humble. He was a kind man with a gentle soul. He cherished his children and grandchild, and cared endlessly for his wife. Bob was happy as long as his wife Jeanie was by his side; together they traveled the world, were active in their community and church, started a squash scholarship for underserved youth, opened their home to students, and passionately supported their children. Bob had many hobbies including bee-keeping and making “Bob’s Other Honey,” leatherworking, watching hockey, woodworking, sailing trips with friends, whist, biking and playing squash.

Memorial contributions may be made to one of two organizations close to Bob’s heart:

• The University of Minnesota Foundation SquashScholars Scholarship (established by Bob and Jeanie) by mail to U of M Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN, 55486-0266, or online at https://give.umn.edu/giveto/squashscholars (Tax ID: 41-6042488)
• Global Health Ministries (Project #79 AL -P0001) for Dr. Mark Jacobson’s HealthMinistries in Arusha, Tanzania by mail to 7831 Hickory St NE, Fridley, MN 55432 (Tax ID: 36-3532234).

Visitation will be at Falcon Heights United Church of Christ (1795 Holton St, Falcon Heights, MN 55113) on Thursday, July 6, 5:30-7:30 PM.