Raymond Henzlik

He was born December 26, 1926, in Casper, Wyoming, the son of William H. and Adeline Adele (Brown) Henzlik, and as a child, moved to Norfolk, Nebraska.

Ray was a graduate of Northeast Nebraska Community College, and had won a full-ride Regents Scholarship to the University of Nebraska, main campus in Lincoln, where he completed his BS degree in 1948, his MS in 1952, and his PhD, in Zoology in 1960. Ray completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. Prior to attending graduate school, he had taught biology and chemistry at York (Nebr.) High School, where he met his wife-to-be Wilma.

Ray was the Science Education Superintendent at the University of Nebraska Teachers College; taught biology and chemistry at the Omaha North High School. He instructed biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University; was an assistant professor of zoology and biology at University of Nebraska; and professor of physiology at Texas A &M University. At Ball State University he was assistant professor of biology; associate professor of physiology; full professor of physiology; and taught many of his favorites: anatomy, zoology, embryology, and endocrinology. He taught at Ball State University from 1962 until retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1995. His memberships include many educational and philanthropic, including, Who’s Who World, Who’s Who America, Who’s Who Midwest, American Men and Women in Science, Mensa Society, Sigma Xi, Phi Delta Kappa Honoraries, American Association for Advancement of Science, volunteer screening for the American Diabetes Assoc., Indiana Academy of Science, Alumni Association at University of Nebraska, Alumni Association of Cornell University, and the Alumni Association of Ball State University.

As a professor, Ray meticulously taught each course so that the students would have as much knowledge of physiology as possible, especially so that his students, many future doctors, nurses, medical technologists, teachers, physical therapists, and clinical laboratory scientists, would be able to directly apply their knowledge to saving lives via practice and education. In those days, for example, students needed to learn how to manually calculate medicine doses, which was critical to any patient’s well-being.

When Ray arrived at Ball State University in 1962, there was a single Department of Science. When the science dept split into several departments, Ray became instrumental as one of the five original faculty members of the Department of Physiology and Health Science, designing the physiology science laboratories, and many of the course outlines/content.

In 1979, through Ball State’s study abroad program, Ray went to Ramstein Army and Rheine Maine Air Force Bases in Germany, to teach his core courses to American GI’s stationed there. Wife Wilma was able to accompany him, and teach, as well.

Throughout his tenure at Ball State University, Ray did research at many US universities, and continued publishing.

After retirement, Ray became a member of the Association of Life-Long Learners, vacationed in Arizona, and participated in Elder Hostels around the country. He was a landlord with rentals around Muncie, as well as in Sun City West, Arizona.

Survivors include his daughter, Nancy Watts; four grandchildren, Thomas Henzlik Watts, Ryan Michael Watts, Andrea Jo Erin Watts (fiancé Eric Raslich), and Victoria Potter Henzlik; half-brother, Donald E. Henzlik (wife, Barbara); half-sister, Kathy Anderson (husband, John), step-brother, James Busse, nine nieces and thirteen nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Wilma (Bartels) Henzlik; his son, Randall Eugene Henzlik; son-in-law, Michael Roeger Watts; parents, William H. Henzlik and Adeline Adele Henzlik Wolff; brother, William C. (Peggy) Henzlik; step-dad, Rudolph H. Wolff; and step-mom, Mary V. (Walsh Busse) Henzlik; sister-in-law, Lila Bartels (John) McVay; brother-in-law, L.L. (Constance) Bartels; and step-siblings, Patricia (James) Bennett, and Patricia Busse.

Family and family friends are invited for Ray’s short committal service at 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2021, in Elm Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum. Daughter Nancy has postponed Ray’s Memorial service due to the weather and to give folks the peace of mind of there possibly being a higher percentage of pandemic vaccinations completed. Memorial services will be held at a future date, to be announced, at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47304, with the Reverend Matthew Carder of Commonway Church, Muncie, officiating.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Raymond E. Henzlik Scholarship Physiology Fund, at Ball State University, 2000 West University Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47306; University of Nebraska, Lincoln, The Henzlik College of Education, 1010 Lincoln Mall Suite 300, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508; and Northeast Nebraska Community College, 801 East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701.