Professor Duane Mark "Dewey" Thayer
October 16, 2015Share using:
Dollar Bay: Professor Duane Mark "Dewey" Thayer, 81, of Upper Point Mills Road near Dollar Bay, died unexpectedly at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain of an apparent heart attack.
He was born in Kingsford, Michigan on June 15, 1934 to the late Mark and Leonora (Treankler) Thayer. He graduated from Kingsford High School, and later graduated from Michigan College of Mining & Technology (Michigan Tech) with a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He retired from Michigan Tech as professor of Materials and Mineral Engineering.
During his lifetime, he was an educator, innovator, and engineer. He was an international and national consultant in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. He also served as a visiting professor and lecturer at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Dewey also served his country in the United States Marine Corps, honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.
He was united in marriage to Mary P. Jukkala on April 4, 1987.
Dewey was a member of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association board of directors, the Society of Mining Engineers, the American Legion, and a lifetime member of the Vet's Club, among other groups.
Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Dale Douglass Thayer and a sister, Dianne E.M. Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; five daughters, Cecile Marie (Chris) Cloutier of St. Paul, MN, Martha Ann (Jon Thompson) Thayer of Seattle, WA, Mary Frances (Dorrence) Hoffman of Springfield, MO, Terese Martine (Mike) Hunwick of Keller, TX, and Susan Lenore (Daniel) Liebau of Houghton, and 7 grandchildren.
Private family services will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931 and directed to the Duane Thayer Honorary Endowed Scholarship (#4979) or to the Salvation Army, 408 Ravine St., Hancock, MI 49930 in the name of Duane M. Thayer.
To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.