John Harry Wyckoff Wrenn

After a courageous six-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Dr. John H. Wrenn passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006, at Our Lady of theLakeRegionalMedicalCenterin Baton Rouge. Professor Wrenn retired this past August from LSU after 13 years of distinguished service as the director of the Center for Excellence in Palynology. Before joining the LSU faculty, John worked with Amoco Production Co., first as a research scientist inTulsa, Okla., and then as staff geologist/paleontologist in Houston. A resident of Baton Rouge, John was a native ofJackson, Mich., but grew up inArlington Heights, Ill.He served in the U.S. Marine Corps atCampPendletonin Californiafrom 1962-65, receiving both the Good Conduct Medal and a Rifle Expert badge. John holds a B.S. and an M.S. fromNorthernIllinoisUniversityand a Ph.D. from LSU. He pursued his research as a palynologist in just about every corner of the globe, includingAntarctica, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand,South Americaand theGulfCoast. John had published numerous articles on marine palynomorphs and served as president of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, earning the society's Distinguished Service Award in 1998. He was also editor of the society's newsletter for four years and a member of the AASP board of directors. Other professional awards and honors include: Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America, National Science Foundation, LSU Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award and Division of Environmental Geosciences Research Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In the midst of a very busy career, John also found time to pursue his interest in stamp collecting, military history, archaeology and art, displaying one of his numerous watercolors at the LSU Folks' Art Show in 2003. He is survived by his loving wife, Allison K. Wrenn; beloved daughters, Lora Lee Margaret Wrenn of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Margaret Kathryn Wrenn of Baton Rouge; granddaughters, Mallory Taylor Drevline and Alexandra Merrill Drevline of Hoffman Estates; his mother, Phyllis Wrenn of Arlington Heights; brother and sister-in-law, William and Patti Wrenn of Arlington Heights; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, William and Deborah Klingler of Sheboygan, Wis.; nieces, Jeni Lehnert, Jill Mieszala, Krysta Waszilewski, Hannah Wrenn, Emma Wrenn and Katie Klingler; and nephews, William Klingler Jr., Jason Bjorgo and Jonathon Bjorgo. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Webster Blazo Wrenn; his dear sister, Lucille Wrenn Bjorgo; and his son, Zachary William Wrenn. A commitment ceremony will be held atPortHudsonNationalCemetery, Zachary, on Friday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m., with Rabbi Martha Bergadine presiding. Pallbearers will be William Wrenn, Jason Bjorgo, William Klingler, William Klingler Jr., David Randall, Barun SenGupta, Brooks Ellwood and James McGrath. Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Orgler, Richard Kirkland and George Hart. Funeral arrangements by Rabenhorst Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children'sResearchHospitalatwww.stjude.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.stjude.org">www.stjude.orgor the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation athttp://www.toysfortots.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.toysfortots.org">http://www.toysfortots.org. The family also extends its profound thanks to the nursing staff at Our Lady of theLakeCancerCenteron 5-West and Dr. Gerard Miletello and the staff of the Hematology/Oncology Clinic.