Obituary: Robert Dwelle

Robert “Bob” Dwelle, a potato physiologist at the University of Idaho, died on Sept. 4, due to complications of congestive heart failure. He attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating with a degree in biology in 1970. He went directly into a Ph.D. program in plant physiology, graduating in 1974 from University of Montana.

Upon completion of his Ph.D., Bob accepted a position at the University of Idaho’s potato-growing Experiment Station, located in the small farming town of Aberdeen, Idaho. After a decade in Aberdeen, the family relocated to Moscow, where Bob’s wife, Anne, had enrolled in the UI’s Law School. With his typical generosity, Bob rearranged his career to accommodate this goal, and in the process discovered his deepest professional calling: teaching.

The family remained in Moscow, where Bob continued to teach and rose to the position of plant science chair in the College of Agriculture.

Dwelle had to retire early from the teaching he loved, when his cardiac health became precarious.

Dwelle is survived by his wife, Anne; daughters, Karin Jones (Scott) of Snoqualmie, Washington, and Janna Smith (Jon) of Boise; grandchildren, Christian Vega and Elena Grace Vega (of Boise) and Clara Jones (of Snoqualmie); and brother, Richard Dwelle (Kathi) of Madison, Wisconsin.

A memorial service to celebrate Dwelle will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Moscow. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short’s Funeral Chapel and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.