Jon C. Pigage

He was born in Urbana, Illinois in 1951 and was preceded in death by his parents, Leo Charles Pigage and Lucille Case Pigage of Champaign, Illinois. A long time Peyton resident, he is survived by his wife, Helen Kuhn Pigage; sister, Ellen Pigage Elliott of South Carolina; brother, Lee Case Pigage and wife Lynn of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada; nephew Justin Pigage, his wife Lea, niece Mallory Pigage, also of Canada; and two great-nephews and one great-niece.

Dr. Pigage joined the Biology Department at UCCS in 1994 as a senior instructor. He became an assistant professor in 2005 and was promoted to associate professor in 2012. He was a respected scholar and mentor of both undergraduate and graduate students who taught human anatomy and physiology, animal physiology, histology, wildlife disease ecology, mammalogy and general ecology courses.

He was a lifelong member of the American Society of Mammalogists, established the UCCS Natural History Museum and Wildlife Lab, managed the Biology Department’s cadaver laboratory, served as a research associate for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and published many scientific papers on parasites and mammals. Prior to his tenure at UCCS, he was a biology instructor at several colleges and universities in Illinois.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the University of Wyoming and M.S. and Ph.D. in biology from the University of North Dakota.

Jon loved hiking, wildlife watching and photography both locally and during annual visits to Yellowstone National Park. He was a dedicated and talented amateur woodworker who built many tables, boxes, clocks, bookcases, and picture frames over the years. An avid reader, Jon loved history, particularly of the Civil War era and enjoyed visits to battlefields and monuments.

Memorial services for Jon C. Pigage are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 11020 Teachout Road in Black Forest.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a CU Foundation fund in his honor. Donations may be made using the following internet link: uccs.edu/jonpigage or mailing to: University Development | Main Hall 304, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918. Note in check memo line “in honor of Jon Pigage”.