Share Dr. James Severin Quick's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Select your format and elements to print
In Memory Of
Dr. James Severin Quick
1940
2015
Dr. James Severin Quick
October 20, 1940 — July 5, 2015
Listen to Obituary
Dr. James S. Quick
October 20, 1940 – July 5, 2015
Dr. James S. (Jim) Quick of Fort Collins, passed away early on the morning of 5 July 2015 following a long illness, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on 20 October 1940 on a farm near Starkweather, North Dakota to James Rodrick and Anna Selma (Sather) Quick, the oldest of seven children.
Jim's interest in plant breeding began with 4‐H crops projects and continued through his undergraduate experience with the wheat genetics project at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the USDA. He received his B.S. degree from NDSU and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue University. Upon completion of his Ph.D., he served in India with the Rockefeller Foundation in sorghum research for three years and then returned to NDSU as an Associate Professor. He made significant contributions in durum wheat breeding and cultivar development during his 12‐year tenure at NDSU. In 1981 Jim joined Colorado State University (CSU) as a Professor and Leader of the Wheat Investigations project. In the next 23 years he made significant contributions in several areas: hard red winter wheat breeding and improved methodology, high temperature tolerance, Russian wheat aphid resistance, and herbicide tolerance. He and his associates released more than 30 new wheat cultivars and several improved germplasm lines. One of Jim's most long-lasting contributions to the CO wheat industry was his idea to create the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation (CWRF) in collaboration with Colorado wheat industry leaders. CWRF returns substantial research funding to the wheat breeding and wheat-related research programs annually based on seed sales of CSU-developed wheat varieties that are marketed by the CWRF under the Plains Gold Brand.
Jim was especially proud to have served as major professor for 23 Ph.D. and M.S. candidates at NDSU and CSU. He also served the Crop Science Society of America as an Associate Editor of Crop Science. He also was the Editor of the Annual Wheat Newsletter from 1983 to 1994.
In 1996 Dr. Quick became Head of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU and served in that role until his retirement in 2003. After retirement from CSU in 2003, Jim was employed as a consultant/durum wheat breeder for the Dakota Growers Pasta Company, and led the development of two new durum wheat cultivars.
Dr. Quick received numerous awards in recognition of his professional service. He was awarded: Fellowship in the American Society of Agronomy; Fellowship in the Crop Science Society of America; the Agronomic Achievement Award, Crops, from ASA; the Agronomic Research Award from ASA; and the Faculty Certificate of Merit Award from Gamma Sigma Delta. He was named a "Legend" of the Department in 2009, our Centennial Year.
Jim was a scientist and teacher, world traveler, skier, family historian, and gardener extraordinaire. He also was a wonderful husband, loving father, and adoring grandfather. In 1993 he met his current wife, Jackie Panuska; they were married in Fort Collins on 13 June 1994 and recently celebrated their 21st anniversary. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Anna, and brothers, Richard and John.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie Panuska; three daughters, Alissa J. Quick of Bloomington, IN; Katie A. Quick May (Daniel Fairbank) of Fort Collins; Jeanette S. Quick Sandlin (Mark) of Greensboro, NC; and their mother, Rosemary Davenport (Chris Reid) of Fort Collins; also step-children, Robin Horak of Boston, MA and Jason Horak (Alice Kunce) of Little Rock, AR; grandchildren, Cassandra and Nathan May, and step-grandchildren, Kayli and Hunter Sandlin, Lyrian Ruesch and Raymond Knight. He also is survived by siblings, Bobby Ann (Wayne) Paintner of Sundance, WY, Joan (Dennis) Bangen of Casper, WY, Mary Ellen (Jim) Spenningsby of Duluth, MN, and Marcia (Mike) Zimmerman of Garrison, ND; and sister-in-law, Joan Quick of Hickson, ND.
A Memorial to honor his life is planned for August 22, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm in the West Ballroom of the Lory Student Center at CSU.
October 20, 1940 – July 5, 2015
Dr. James S. (Jim) Quick of Fort Collins, passed away early on the morning of 5 July 2015 following a long illness, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on 20 October 1940 on a farm near Starkweather, North Dakota to James Rodrick and Anna Selma (Sather) Quick, the oldest of seven children.
Jim's interest in plant breeding began with 4‐H crops projects and continued through his undergraduate experience with the wheat genetics project at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the USDA. He received his B.S. degree from NDSU and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue University. Upon completion of his Ph.D., he served in India with the Rockefeller Foundation in sorghum research for three years and then returned to NDSU as an Associate Professor. He made significant contributions in durum wheat breeding and cultivar development during his 12‐year tenure at NDSU. In 1981 Jim joined Colorado State University (CSU) as a Professor and Leader of the Wheat Investigations project. In the next 23 years he made significant contributions in several areas: hard red winter wheat breeding and improved methodology, high temperature tolerance, Russian wheat aphid resistance, and herbicide tolerance. He and his associates released more than 30 new wheat cultivars and several improved germplasm lines. One of Jim's most long-lasting contributions to the CO wheat industry was his idea to create the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation (CWRF) in collaboration with Colorado wheat industry leaders. CWRF returns substantial research funding to the wheat breeding and wheat-related research programs annually based on seed sales of CSU-developed wheat varieties that are marketed by the CWRF under the Plains Gold Brand.
Jim was especially proud to have served as major professor for 23 Ph.D. and M.S. candidates at NDSU and CSU. He also served the Crop Science Society of America as an Associate Editor of Crop Science. He also was the Editor of the Annual Wheat Newsletter from 1983 to 1994.
In 1996 Dr. Quick became Head of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU and served in that role until his retirement in 2003. After retirement from CSU in 2003, Jim was employed as a consultant/durum wheat breeder for the Dakota Growers Pasta Company, and led the development of two new durum wheat cultivars.
Dr. Quick received numerous awards in recognition of his professional service. He was awarded: Fellowship in the American Society of Agronomy; Fellowship in the Crop Science Society of America; the Agronomic Achievement Award, Crops, from ASA; the Agronomic Research Award from ASA; and the Faculty Certificate of Merit Award from Gamma Sigma Delta. He was named a "Legend" of the Department in 2009, our Centennial Year.
Jim was a scientist and teacher, world traveler, skier, family historian, and gardener extraordinaire. He also was a wonderful husband, loving father, and adoring grandfather. In 1993 he met his current wife, Jackie Panuska; they were married in Fort Collins on 13 June 1994 and recently celebrated their 21st anniversary. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Anna, and brothers, Richard and John.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie Panuska; three daughters, Alissa J. Quick of Bloomington, IN; Katie A. Quick May (Daniel Fairbank) of Fort Collins; Jeanette S. Quick Sandlin (Mark) of Greensboro, NC; and their mother, Rosemary Davenport (Chris Reid) of Fort Collins; also step-children, Robin Horak of Boston, MA and Jason Horak (Alice Kunce) of Little Rock, AR; grandchildren, Cassandra and Nathan May, and step-grandchildren, Kayli and Hunter Sandlin, Lyrian Ruesch and Raymond Knight. He also is survived by siblings, Bobby Ann (Wayne) Paintner of Sundance, WY, Joan (Dennis) Bangen of Casper, WY, Mary Ellen (Jim) Spenningsby of Duluth, MN, and Marcia (Mike) Zimmerman of Garrison, ND; and sister-in-law, Joan Quick of Hickson, ND.
A Memorial to honor his life is planned for August 22, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm in the West Ballroom of the Lory Student Center at CSU.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Starts at 2:00 pm
CSU Lory Student Center
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors