Dr. Harlan R. "Doc" Woerpel, 78, died Nov. 28, 2007, at Hospice House in Hutchinson.

He was born on Jan. 12, 1929, on the Woerpel homestead, 3 miles west of Fairfax, South Dakota, the third son of Albert and Laura Ott Woerpel. He graduated as Valedictorian of his 1947 Fairfax High School class. He attended Chillicothe Business College in Missouri. He completed Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from South Dakota University. Then from Iowa State University he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Animal Nutrition in 1964.

In 1971, he was a teacher at Hutchinson Community College, having taught Agriculture and Allied Health classes. In 1984, he was appointed Department Chairman, which he held until his retirement in 1995, with 24 years of service.

Harlan was baptized and confirmed in the Hope Congregational Church of Fairfax, and was presently a member of First Congregational Church, Hutchinson.

During Dr. Woerpel's tenure at HCC he served as consultant and evaluator for the North Central Association of Colleges, an organization that accredits new college programs and reaccredits existing programs. Harlan played the saxophone in his youth and continued playing while at HCC with Jeff Pelischeck's band, and the Pep Band at football and basketball games.

Some awards he received include a Teaching Fellow award and an Excellence Award from the National Institution of Staff & Org. Dev. at the University of Texas; a Golden Dragon Award at HCC, and was an Inductee to the HCC Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Agriculture Honor Society, Gamma Signa Delta, the American Legion, the Elks, and the American Society of Animal Science.

He was a veteran of the Korean War, assigned to the battleship, U.S.S. Wisconsin.

On Aug. 13, 1960, he married Alice Feagins at Phoenix, Arizona. She survives.

Harlan was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He felt teaching and advising young people to be truly rewarding. "Doc" has touched the lives of many family, friends, students and colleagues and will be truly missed. Remember, Harlan, life may not be forever, but love is for always, from your family and many friends.

Other survivors include: a son, Todd Woerpel and wife Leisly, Houston; a daughter Traci Shortt and husband Mark, Duxbury, MA; a brother Willard Woerpel and wife Jan, Marseilles, Ill.; four grandchildren, Zachary James and Ian Charles Woerpel, Fiona Mae and Steven Michael Shortt.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Raymond.

Memorial Service will be at First Congregational Church, 3410 N. Plum, on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Matt Stafford presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, with the family present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Inurnment will be at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to the First Congregational Church or Hospice of Reno County.

Condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.