KU News Release

KU chancellor issues statement on death of longtime professor Roger Kaesler

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway issued the following statement today on the death of professor emeritus Roger Leroy Kaesler, who died Aug. 11 at the age of 70.

“Roger Kaesler was a tremendous asset to the University of Kansas. For more than 40 years, Roger served as a professor in the Department of Geology and was a mentor and friend to countless students and colleagues. On behalf of them and the entire university, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Roger’s family and friends.”

Kaesler became a faculty member in KU’s geology department in 1965 after earning a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and master’s and doctoral degrees in paleontology from KU. He frequently taught classes in paleontology and prehistoric life. He lead KU’s Geology Field Camp in Canon City, Colo., and was a curator at the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center. In 1986, he became director of the Paleontological Institute and editor of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology.

During his tenure at KU, Kaesler was the recipient of several awards and honors. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Paleontological Society and the Geological Society of America. He also was awarded the Geological Society of America’s Distinguished Service Award, the Haworth Distinguished Alumni Award from the KU’s geology department and the Distinguished Alumni Award and Van Diest Medal from the Colorado School of Mines. Kaesler retired from KU in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Jerelyn Boudreaux Kaesler; daughters Jane Kaesler Stotts of Topeka, Andrea Kaesler of Topeka and Susanne Broussard Grossoehme of Baldwin City; son Stephen Kaesler of Wichita; brother Walter Kaesler Jr. of Golden, Colo.; and five grandchildren.

“Roger Kaesler has been a key figure in KU’s Department of Geology for many years,” said Robert Goldstein, chair of the geology department. “Roger was world-renowned for his research in paleoecology, Ostracode evolution and invertebrate paleontology, and was responsible for publishing more than a dozen volumes of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, the major reference work on invertebrate paleontology. As a gifted teacher, he inspired generations of students, especially in the department’s field camp. As a friend, colleague and mentor, we will all miss him very much.”

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