Henry Joseph Niebauer, III

MIDDLETON-Henry Joseph Niebauer III, 71, of Middleton died Wednesday, the 24th of February.  He was born in Madison on December 23, 1944 to Caroline and Walter E. Niebauer. "Joe" grew up in Phillips, WI and received a BS from UW in 1967.   He married Jane Meyer in 1968 in Madison.   In 1969, Joe entered the US Navy and was an officer on research vessels in the South Seas and in the Greenland Seas.  He received a Ph.D. from UW in Oceanography in 1975.  He worked as a professor of Oceanography at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks until he retired in 1997 when he was given the title of Professor of Marine Science, Emeritus.  His research in the Bering Sea and the Greenland Sea resulted in numerous professional publications.   He was named most inspirational teacher in the College of Environmental Sciences in 1979.  Joe served on the National Research Council for the Dept. of Interior, Minerals Management Service.  He was appointed to the Office of Naval Research Chair in Arctic Marine Science for his contributions to the study of Polar Marine Science.  Fairbanks was their home for 21 years and was where they raised their three sons.  When he moved to Madison, he held a position at the UW for seven years doing research and teaching after which he taught at Edgewood College in the Geosciences until 2008.  He has been active with his church both in Alaska and Wisconsin and was on the boards of the Middleton Optimists and the Friends of Pheasant Branch.  Joe loved boating and had a boat most of his life.  His retirement involved much travel which he enjoyed as well as spending time with his beloved grandchildren.  Joe had a lifelong love of running and participated in many different fun runs.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and had a way with people.  He will be missed.  He is survived by his wife Jane of 47 years and their children Henry Joseph (Lisa) Niebauer IV of Oshkosh, Michael (Madeleine) Niebauer of Middleton, and John (Liz) Niebauer of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren Henry Joseph V, Owen, Caroline, Mirabelle, Julian; two brothers Walter (Elaine) Niebauer and Br. Paul Vincent Niebauer as well as brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews and cousins.