Thor Kommedahl, 96, of Falcon Heights, died Aug. 11, 2016.
Thor spent his career as a professor of plant pathology at the University of Minnesota, teaching courses in plant disease, poisonous and pesky plants, and natural resources, as well as conducting research on corn diseases and biological control of disease.
He served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Phytopathology and was president of the American Phytopathological Society. He was also the secretary-general of the International Society of Plant Pathology.
Awards included a Guggenheim Fellowship and Fulbright Scholarship. He volunteered at the Science Museum of Minnesota for 22 years as a writer.
He was an avid runner. His goal was to run the same distance as if he’d run around the world, and he accomplished that goal. He carefully noted his distances with each run.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Torbjorn and Martha (Blegen) Kommedahl, and siblings, Berit, Clifford, Vivian, Marion and Ruth.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Faye; son, Kris (Elsa); daughters, Siri (Lisa Bradley) and Lori (Mike) O’Neill; and three grandchildren, Rikke, Anne-Marthe and Sander.
A Celebration of Life service was held Aug. 18 at University Baptist Church.
