Dale 'Doc' Stukenholtz

TWIN FALLS, ID -- Dale 'Doc' Stukenholtz, 72, died December 20, 2006, with his family by his side.

Dale was born on April 17, 1934, in Nebraska City, NE. He grew up working on the family farm and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. While earning a B.S. degree in agronomy, Dale served with the Army ROTC and did his artillery officer training in Fort Still, OK.

Dale met Joyce Goering of Johnson, NE, and they married June 3, 1956. He completed his M.S. degree in soil fertility in 1958 and his Ph.D. in soil science in 1964 from the University of Nebraska.

He then worked for the American Potash and Phosphate Institute in Columbus, OH, and later the U.S. Steel Corporation in Salt Lake City.

In 1971 after moving to Twin Falls, ID, Dale and Joyce started their own agricultural business--Stukenholtz Laboratory and Consulting. Over the last 35 years, he worked with hundred of people, employees and clients alike, many of which became his best friends.

Dale was a pioneer in agriculture and an innovator in the potato industry. Many standard farming practices today were developed or popularized by him including split nitrogen applications, mid-season plant testing, water applied nitrogen and phosphorus, foliar nutrient sprays, dammer-diking and starter fertilizer.

Doc was selected as the American Cyanamid consultant of the year in 1994 and was inducted into the Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2000. He continued his passion for this line of work until the time of his death.

Dale was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend and agronomist, and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held January 4, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Dale's name be directed to the Ronald McDonald House of Boise or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Donations will be accepted by Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, ID, 83301.