grave import

Obituary

Dr. Aldo Leopold, 62, member of the Wisconsin Conservation commission and nationally known conservation authority, died Wednesday while helping fight a grass fire near his summer home in central Wisconsin. He was a native of Burlington, brother of Carl and Frederic Leopold and Mrs. Marie Lord of this city. According to word to the family and Associated Press dispatches, Dr. and Mrs. Leopold and their daughter, Estella, were helping fight the fire near a small creek, and Leopold became separated from the others. After the fire was brought under control, Dr. Leopold did not return to his home, and 2 searchers found his body after his wife notified neighbors. Members of the family here expressed belief that he had suffered a fatal heart attack. The body was not badly charred. A bucket of water was nearby. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Leopold motored to Des Moines Wednesday and were advised of the death there. They left immediately for Madison, Wis., Dr. Leopold's home. Dr. Leopold had undergone surgery at Rochester, Minn., more than a year ago, but his health had apparently improved since that time. The summer home is on acreage owned by Dr. Leopold on which he practiced extensive forestry and wild life experiments, privately.
He was born in Burlington Jan. 11, 1886, the son of Carl and Clara (Starker). Leopold, attended Burlington schools through 2 years of high school, and the Lawrenceville school in New Jersey, before going to Yale university. He received his bachelor of science degree in 1908 and his master of forestry degree in 1909. He began his career as forest assistant for the US forest service in 1909, serving in Arizona and New Mexico, until 1924. He went to Madison, Wis., in 1925 as associate director of Forest Products laboratory, serving through 1927. His growing interest in his lifelong hobby of the study of wild life led him to leave the forestry service to devote his full time to game management and conservation. He made a survey of the upland game situation in the upper Mississippi Valley states for the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers' institute, and his findings and recommendations were published in book form. The state of Iowa engaged him to formulate a 25-year plan for the state including the establishment of the state conservation commission, and drawing the broad outline for the conduct of its work in conserving and restoring natural resources of Iowa in wildlife an recreational fields. Leopold had been professor of Wild Life management, University of Wisconsin, since 1933, holds medals from the Permanent Wild Life Protection fund and Outdoor Life. In 1934, he was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt a member of a special commission on wild life restoration. Leopold was identified with many well known organizations and had authored several books. his memberships included Wisconsin Conservation commission, Society American Foresters, American Orinthologists union, Society American Mammalogists; Cooper and Wilson Ornithology clubs, Boone and Crockett club. He served as president of the American Wild Life society in 1939, had been vice president of the Wilderness society since 1945 and a member of the council since 1935. He was a member of Sigma XI, and Phi Kappa Phi. His book, "Game Management", published by Scribner in 1933, is recognized in the profession as the standard of authority, and is used as a text in universities everywhere. The book is dedicated to his father, Carl Leopold, "Pioneer in Sportsmanship.: Before his death he completed a book of essays which has been accepted for publication by Oxford Press, and will appear soon. He was a contributor to a number of outdoor magazines. Frank Schramm of Burlington, long a friend of Dr. Leopold and much interested in his work, had high tribute for him. "In his death", said Schramm, "America has lost one of her most forthright and distinguished conservationists. In his book on game management he formulated principles that are accepted everywhere as fundamental and will probably never be superseded. He had a distinguished career as a forester, a natural scientist, and as an educator and writer. "His students are found today doing important work and in key positions in conservation work. With his brilliant analytical mind and almost encyclopedic knowledge in all branches of natural history, there was combined a simple and direct manner that endeared him to those fortunate enough to have been associated with him. Charm and humor were evidenced in even his more technical writings." Leopold married Estella Bergere of Santa Fe,, N.M., Oct. 9, 1914. She is a sister of Mrs. Carl S. Leopold Of Burlington. Surviving are his widow; 5 children, Aldo Starker Leopold, Luna Bergere, Adelina, Carl Aldo and Estella Leopold; 2 brothers, Carl and Frederic of Burlington and a sister, Mrs. Marie Lord, Burlington.The body will be brought to the Burnett Wallen funeral home and services will be held at Aspen Grove cemetery Friday at 3:30 p.m.