Douglas Lemon

Doug graduated as valedictorian of Blair High School class of 1977 and from Dana College, summa cum laude, in 1981. He married Pam Paulsen of Blair in 1983 and they moved to Houston where Doug earned a PhD in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1989. While at Rice, Doug became involved in artificial hemoglobin research when he continued with post-doctoral work at the National Research Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and with employment in Boulder, CO. He later changed his research emphasis to heart disease and worked as a Research Professor at the University of Colorado Medical Center until his glioblastoma diagnosis in December of 2010.

Doug’s interests were many and varied. He loved sports, both as a participant in high school and college and as a spectator in later years. He was a faithful Cornhusker fan even while living in Texas and Colorado, traveling to attend games nearly every year. He was a bicyclist who loved to ride in the mountains and also in the BRAN (bike ride across Nebraska). He enjoyed watching his sons’ athletic events and the many different sporting events in the Denver area. He also loved the outdoors and the beauty of nature. Family camping, hiking, fossil-hunting and trips to a favorite beach house in Mexico were important to him. He loved astronomy and studying the stars and planets. He especially was fascinated with solar eclipses and traveled extensively to view these, including taking his family to Africa in 2001 to see a total solar eclipse in Zambia. He explored every area in which he lived and enjoyed learning about the history of each place. His interests, both personal and professional, took him to five continents.

He is survived by his wife Pam; sons Christopher, Ryan and Mitchell, all of Louisville, CO; parents of Blair, NE; sister Linda Lemon of Blair; brother Steve (Heather) Lemon of Papillion, NE; parents-in-law Jim and Jean Paulsen; brothers-in-law Rick (Susan) Paulsen, Blair; Michael Paulsen, Papillion; numerous nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts and cousins and many great friends.

A visitation/open house will be held on Monday, February 6 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Howe Mortuary in Longmont, CO. A Celebration of Life will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the West end Auditorium at Flatirons Community Church, Lafayette, CO.

A memorial service will also be held in Blair, Nebraska on Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church.

Memorial donations can be made to the National Brain Tumor Society via www.braintumor.org/

Please share your condolences at www.howemortuary.com