Langdon Divers

Divers, Langdon MADISON Langdon Divers, age 105, joined his beloved sweetheart, Alice Rodgers Divers, in heaven on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, following a brief stay at HospiceCare, Madison. He was born and raised in Fond du Lac, the son of Belle Pierce and Biron Wheeler Divers. He was in the first graduating class of Goodrich High School. He later gave a graduation speech the year the old school closed in 2001. Through a series of his newspaper articles, photographs and video tapes of his experiences growing up, his love and knowledge of boating and of Lake Winnebago, he became the esteemed historian of Fond du Lac. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was active in the glee club, touring Europe in the early 1920s. His experiences at the university led to contacts with Charles Lindberg, Frank Lloyd Wright, Henry Ford, King Farouk and Spencer Tracy, among others. Following graduation, in his life long role as a teacher, he positively influenced the lives of his many students at Wisconsin High School on the University of Wisconsin campus. He also instructed Army Air Force personnel on the use of radio communications and new electronic devices, such as radar, at Truax Field during World War II. In the mid 1950s he joined the University of Wisconsin Department of Botany, where he was involved in the early use of the electron microscope and created some of the equipment for penicillin research and DNA studies. Langdon had a phenomenal range of interests in mechanical, electrical and optical devices and had an insatiable curiosity about how they work. It was characteristic of him that, at age 98, he educated himself on the design and operation of computers. Because his family doctor died on the Titanic, Langdon became an expert on the ships construction and sinking and gave numerous talks about the tragedy. Following his retirement in 1968, he and Alice enjoyed life fully in their home on Lake Mendota and as an ardent member of the Madison Slide and Movie Club. He always maintained his close ties to Fond du Lac through his weekly newspaper articles from 1999 to 2007, guest lectures, the Yacht Club, the Langdon Divers Community Gallery in the Fond du Lac Library and interest in the future Fond du Lac Marine Center. Langdons memory of a century of happenings was truly amazing. A former colleague of his described him as a "jack of all trades and a master of All!" He will be deeply missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. A funeral service will be held at the GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Allen Wahl officiating. Friends may visit from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will be next to Alice at the Viroqua Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fond du Lac Library or the future Fond du Lac Marine Center.