Edward Dunigan

A retired Professor and Department Head Emeritus of the LSU Agronomy Department, he died on March 1, 2022. Edward was a resident of Baton Rouge and a native of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. He was 87 years old. Edward was a U.S. Army veteran having served with the 5th Infantry Division and the 11th Airborne Division for two years in Augsburg, Germany.

Predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Julia Woolery Dunigan, he is survived by his son Patrick and wife Denise and granddaughters Julia, Virginia and Sarah of Madison, MS and son Michael and wife Shea and granddaughter Lauren of San Francisco, CA, brother James and wife Marlene of Stevens Point, WI and sons Eric and Brian, and a sister, Marylynn of McGregor, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Agnes Dunigan and brother John Dunigan of Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Edward graduated with degrees from Wisconsin State University, Stevens Point, 1958 (B.S., Chemistry) and Michigan State University 1961 (M.S., Organic Chemistry). He spent two years as a Polymer Research Chemist with U.S. Rubber Tire Co. in Detroit and General Motors Research Labs in Warren, MI. Edward returned to graduate school at The University of Arizona, 1964-67 (Ph.D., Agricultural Chemistry and Soils). He was awarded a Visiting Scientist Scholar position at The Oak Ridge National Labs in Knoxville, TN (1970) where he studied the adsorption of radioactive nuclides on soil particles. He was on the Agronomy faculty of LSU and the LSU Agricultural Center for 29 years (1967-1996). He taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and conducted research on microbial transformations in soils. Edward authored over 100 professional articles on this subject and served as the Major Professor for numerous M.S. and Ph.D. students. He served on numerous committees. He was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Management Curriculum. Edward was the first chairman of the LSU Blood Bank and served two terms on the Faculty Senate, was president of Gamma Sigma Delta (1980), and awarded his Teaching Award of Merit (1984). He was awarded The Outstanding Alumnus Award by the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point (1983) on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his graduation. After retirement, Edward served as a volunteer photographer for Volunteer Baton Rouge, The Campus Club of LSU and Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area. Edward volunteered for the Red Cross, Friends of the LSU Library and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. He was an Assistant Scout Master with University Baptist Church and coached Little League Baseball for several years. A founding member of the Inklings writing group, he authored several works of fiction. Edward loved to travel and he and his wife traveled extensively throughout the US, Europe, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean for several years. He was a member of both St. Aloysius and St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Churches. In lieu of flowers; please make a donation to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, or a charity of your choice.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, March 4, 2022 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, at 9:30 a.m. until the Memorial Mass beginning at 10:30a.m. Interment will directly follow at ST. George Catholic Church, 7808 St. George Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.rabenhorst.com.