William P. Riemen

William P. Riemen, age 78, died peacefully at his Dellwood Wisconsin cabin on June 1, 2007, one week after arriving from his Texas home. For thirteen years he had lived with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma.

He was born in Philadelphia, PA on November 18, 1928, the son of the late William and Edna Riemen. His brother Robert predeceased him. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin (UW) in 1950 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1955, he received a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry, also from UW. After ten years of research positions with US Rubber, Pure Oil and the Institute of Paper Chemistry, he began his academic career. He taught chemistry and physics at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, UW Center in Appleton, WI followed by overseas assignments at the College of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and the University of Guam, Agana, Guam. After receiving an M.S.

Degree in Mathematics from Stephen F. Austin State University, he taught at Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas and Ambassador University, Big Sandy, Texas, retiring in 1995 as Professor Emeritus.

He married Doris Johnston in 1954. For the next 52 years, they enjoyed traveling the world: viewing the Taj Mahal by moonlight, sleeping under the stars at Mt. Sinai, standing beside the giant moas on Easter Island, trekking in Irian Jaya, climbing the giant sand dunes in Namibia, living in a yurt in Mongolia and in 2000 cruising around the world for four months. He visited a total of a 135 countries during those years.

Survivors are his wife Doris and his children: Kathy O’Neal (Francis), Carol Killingley (Reginald), Barbara Bruhn (Albert), William Riemen (Jenny) and grandchildren: Devon, Kelsey, Jessica, Jennifer, David, John, Alexandra, Nikki, Eric.

Philosophy, Theology and Mathematics were his intellectual passions and he continued his interest in them until his death. He was a member of First United Methodist Church Hawkins, Texas and the Faithful Followers Class.

His concern for homeless and abandoned dogs was evidenced by the five wonderful dogs who found their way into his life and love: Scouty, Buddy, Katie, Bucky and Chucky.

His cremains will be interred in Sunset Memory Gardens in Madison, WI on June 11, 2007 with Doris and the four children present. During Thanksgiving week, on a cruise, the entire family will scatter some of his ashes in the Caribbean as a tribute to his love of travel.

Upon returning to Texas in November, the family will hold a celebration of his life at their home in Big Sandy, Texas. Memorials in his honor may be sent to your local humane society or animal shelter.

And God will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of God’s hand.