Douglas D. Lemon, 52

Loved Astronomy, Studied the Stars & Planets

Douglas D. Lemon, 52, of Louisville, Colo., died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, at the Balfour Hospice in Louisville after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the First United Methodist Church in Blair.

Douglas D. Lemon was born Aug. 15, 1959, in Lincoln to Dale and Jane (Kramer) Lemon.

He graduated as valedictorian of the Blair High School Class of 1977 and graduated summa cum laude from Dana College in 1981.

In 1983, he married Pam Paulsen of Blair, and they moved to Houston, Texas, where he earned a PhD in biochemistry in 1989 from Rice University. While at Rice, he became involved in artificial hemoglobin research, which he continued with post-doctoral work at the National Research Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., and with employment in Boulder, Colo. He later changed his research emphasis to heart disease and worked as a research professor at the University of Colorado Medical Center until his diagnosis with glioblastoma in December of 2010.

His 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 football 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 in the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). 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 was especially fascinated by solar eclipses and traveled extensively to view these, including taking his family to Africa in 2001 to see a total solar eclipse in Zambia. His long-time interest in the space program was heightened during his years in Houston by having a Rice classmate who became an astronaut. He and his family were thrilled to be invited to watch the launch with the astronauts' families.

He explored every area in which he lived and enjoyed hearing about the history and culture of each place. He loved traveling and was fortunate to experience Europe twice with the Rev. John Nielsen's Dana interim trips. 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, Colo.; parents, Dale and Jane Lemon of Blair; sister, Linda Lemon of Blair; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Heather Lemon of Papillion; parents-in-law, Jim and Jean Paulsen; brothers-in-law, Rick and Susan Paulsen of Blair and Michael Paulsen of Papillion; nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins, and countless friends.

Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.

# 2 - - Published in the World-Herald, February 9, 2012

DOULGAS LEMON D., age 52

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Doug was born on August 15, 1959 in Lincoln, NE to Dale and Jane Kramer Lemon, and lost his courageous battle with brain cancer on February 1, 2012 at the Balfour Hospice in Louisville, CO. He graduated as Valedictorian of Blair High School, class of 1977, and from Dana College, Summa cum Laude, in 1981. He married Pam Paulsen in Blair in 1983, where Doug earned a PhD in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1989. While at Rice, Doug became involved in artificial hemoglobin research, which he continued with post-doctoral work at the National Research Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, and with employment in Boulder, CO. He later changed his research emphasis to heart disease, and was a Research Professor at the University of Colorado Medical Center at the time of his glioblastoma diagnosis in December, 2010. Doug’s interests were many and varied; travel in US and abroad; bike riding in the mountains and in BRAN; astronomy, especially solar eclipses which he traveled to see; sports, participant and spectator; Husker football; and learning the history and culture of each area where he lived. He appreciated the beauty of nature, and especially loved camping, hiking, fossil hunting, and beachcombing with his wife and sons. He is survived by wife Pam; sons, Christopher; Ryan and Mitchell, all of Louisville, CO; parents, Blair, NE; sister, Linda Lemon, Blair; brother, Steve (Heather) Lemon, Papillion, NE; parents-in-law, Jim and Jean Paulsen, Blair; brothers-in-law, Rich (Susan) Paulsen, Blair; and Michael Paulsen, Papillion; loving nieces, nephews and other relatives and countless friends.

SERVICES were Tuesday, February 7, at the Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, CO. A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held Saturday, February 11, at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church, 1656 Colfax St., Blair, NE.

#3 Funeral Leaflet

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In Memory of Douglas D. Lemon

August 15, 1959 ~ February 1, 2012

Memorial Service 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 11, 2012 First United Methodist Church, Bair, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Rebecca Hjelle. Organist: Ann Thiemann. Soloists: Dave & Lois Carlsen. Prelude. Welcome and Opening Prayer. Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31. Special Music: “On Eagle’s Wings”. Obituary and Remembrances of Life. Prayer of Thanksgiving. Message: Pastor Rebecca Hjelle. Congregational Hymn: #378 “Amazing Grace”. Benediction.

Please join the family in Fellowship Hall downstairs following the service.

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 84554647