Hermann Donnert
2nd.
3rd...he's the most rabid KSU I've ever seen...and he truly hates ku with a passion beyond belief...even if he does tend to spittle..
Sadly, Dr. Donnert passed away on November 5, 2006. RIP, Dr. Donnert:
Hermann J. Donnert
Mass Of Christian Burial: Date: 11/10/2006
Time: 2:30 PM Friday
Location: St. Thomas More Catholic Church
2900 Kimball Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Visitation: Date: 11/10/2006
Time: 1:30-2:30 PM Friday
Location: St. Thomas More Catholic Church
2900 Kimball Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Obituary: Hermann J. Donnert, age 77, of Manhattan, died Sunday afternoon, November 5, 2006, at the St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.
He was born on January 20, 1929, in Lienz, Austria, the son of Hermann and Gertrud B. (Bocek) Donnert. He graduated class valedictorian in 1947 from secondary-school and received a doctorate in mathematics and theoretical physics from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, summa cum laude in 1951 at the age of 22 (the youngest recipient in more than 50 years).
Dr. Donnert became a secondary-school teacher and then a postdoctoral research fellow in Austria and Germany. In 1957, the United States Department of Defense recruited him to immigrate to America where he worked 10 years for Pentagon officials on the development and testing of nuclear weapons and radiological systems. In 1966, he came to Manhattan and to Kansas State University where he joined the nuclear engineering department and continued to teach today’s leading nuclear engineers over the next 31 years. Dr. Donnert was affectionately known by students and staff as “Mr. Purple Pride”, always wearing purple and supporting Kansas State. During this time he also spent several summers (1976-1979) as a Visiting Staff Member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was also part of the Star Wars missile defense program while working part-time as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984-85. He was awarded the Emeritus Life Member Award in April 1997, and retired in May 1997.
Dr. Donnert was awarded the Honorary Golden Ph.D. degree in 2001 from his alma mater, the University in Innsbruck, Austria. His activities in the American Nuclear Society included Chairman of the Student Activities Committee, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Scholarship Coordination Committee, and President of Alpha Nu Sigma. He was also an Honorary Life-Time Member of the American Nuclear Society, Distinguished Faculty Member of Alpha Nu Sigma, Life-Time Emeritus Member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Locally he was an active member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church and was active with Boy Scouts of America. In 1997, he was honored as a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award through the Coronado Area Council of Boy Scouts.
On September 5, 1954, in Innsbruck, Austria, he was united in marriage to the former Margarete Karner. She survives of the home. Also surviving are three sons: Herf Donnert and his wife Sally of Longview, Texas, Dan Donnert and his wife Denise of Manhattan and David Donnert and his wife Scarlett also of Manhattan. One brother: Diedfried Donnert of Germany, five grandchildren: Nicole Coleman and her husband Ben of Manhattan, Natalie Donnert of Lake Charles, LA, and Ashley, Taylor and Ryan Donnert all of Manhattan. He is also survived by one great granddaughter: Haven Coleman.
Dr. Donnert was preceded in death by his parents.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2:30 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2006, at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan with Father Don Zimmerman as celebrant. Cremation will follow with private inurnment at a later date in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Manhattan.
Visitation will be Friday from 1:30 until service time at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
On-line condolences may be left for the family at this website by clicking on “Send Condolences”.
Memorials have been established for the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research and for the St. Thomas More Catholic Church Building Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Memorial Funds: Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research
St. Thomas More Catholic Church Building Fund
