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K-State Today

April 27, 2018

Memorial service scheduled May 5 for James Guikema

Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing

James Guikema, who devoted decades to Kansas State University as an administrator and professor of biology, will be honored during a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Konza Prairie Biological Station. Guikema died on Wednesday, April 18.

Guikema, 66, joined the Division of Biology in 1981 and began 37 years of teaching, research, service and administration at Kansas State University. During the next 17 years, he rose through the ranks to be named associate director of the Division of Biology. His research program in plant sciences transitioned into gravitational and space biology, with multiple experiments on the space shuttle.

In 1998, Guikema became the university's associate dean of the graduate school and associate vice president for research. After 17 years, he returned to the Division of Biology to serve again as associate director. During his dedicated service in the university's central administration, he wore many hats, but he most enjoyed mentoring students and young faculty and supporting novel research and scholarly pursuits.

Guikema received a bachelor's degree from Calvin College in Michigan and a doctorate in photosynthesis from the University of Michigan. He served a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife of 31 years, Sue Brown, a Kansas State University distinguished professor of biology.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to Konza Prairie Research Excellence Fund F53200 at one.found.ksu.edu/ccon.

Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and crematory is handling arrangements. More is information is available at irvinparkview.com/obituaries/James-Allen-Guikema?obId=3064112#/obituaryInfo.