Notes for: Joseph Hall Bodine, Sr.

Joseph Hall Bodine was born on September 19, 1894 in Lake Hopatcong, Morris Co., NJ to Gilbert and Sarah Annie Hall Bodine (IGI).

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (v. 46, p. 268) has an article about and a picture of Dr. Joseph Hall Bodine. His father was a railroad engineer. Joseph was a famous zoologist. He received his public education in Rockaway, NJ and graduated with a Ph.D. in 1920 from the University of Pennsylvania. He later became professor and head of the department of zoology at the university of Iowa. He held this position there until near the end of his life. He wrote many articles on cellular physiology and belonged to numerous societies. He became a captain during WWI, serving in France. In relgion he was a Congregationalist and in politics a Republican.

He first married Sarah Olivia Heimach, daughter of George M. Heimach of Philadelphia, on Nov. 19, 1919 in Philadelphia. She died in 1950. He then married Eunice (Willis) Beardsley, daughter of Elbert E. Willis of Colorado, a rancher, on June 9, 1951 in Elmhurst, IL. Eunice was the widow of Alfred Stave Beardsley. He died on July 23, 1954 in Iowa City, Iowa. He had one son by his first marriage, Joseph Hall Bodine, Jr.

From Ronny Bodine:

1st marriage--1919--SARAH OLIVIA HEIMACH.
Records of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA.
Married Joseph Hall Bodine & Sarah Olivia Heimach 15 Nov 1919 at the Parsonage.

1940 Iowa City, Johnson Co., IA: Joseph H. BODINE 46 NJ professor, Sarah H. 48 PA wife, Joseph H. Jr. 18 PA son, Rella GEARHARD 63 PA cousin.

Obituary, Iowa City (IA) Press-Citizen of Friday, 16 June 1950.
Mrs. Sarah H. Bodine, wife of Dr. J. H. Bodine, head of the University of Iowa zoology department, died suddenly of a heart attack at 10 p.m. Thursday at her home on Prairie du Chien road. Mrs. Bodine was born in Phillipsburg, Pa., the daughter of William and Martha Gearhart Heimach. She was married to Doctor Bodine in June, 1920 [sic]. The couple established their home in Philadelphia, Pa. They moved to Iowa City in 1928 and had been here since that time. Mrs. Bodine is survived by her husband, one son, Joseph, Jr., at home; one brother, David Heimach, of Philadelphia, Pa., and one sister, Mrs. Ellen Maxey, in Georgia. Mrs. Bodine was a lifelong member of the Congregational church. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Beckman's. The Rev. John G. Craig, pastor of the First Congregational church, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery. Friends may call at Beckman's until the time of the service.


2nd marriage--1951--EUNICE WILLIS.

Joseph Bodine's widow, Eunice, married 2ndly, after 1966, Claude J. Lapp (1892-1971), of Iowa City.

Obituary, The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) of 12 Jan 1991.
Eunice Willis Lapp, 85, of Irvine, a retired administrative assistant, died Tuesday. Memorial services at 1 p.m. today at Irvine University Methodist Church. Arrangements by Saddleback Chapel, Tustin. Survived by her nieces, Margaret Boles, Jo Ann Holy and Ruth De Berry, all of Texas.


Obituary, The Milford (IA) Mail of 29 July 1954.
Dr. J. H. Bodine, director of the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory for the past 25 yeans, died In Iowa City Friday. He had been ill with a virus pneumonia, and complications necessitated surgery for removal of a lung. Dr Bodine did not rally from the operation. Cause of death was given as lung cancer. Dr. Bodine was head of the Department of Zoology at the State University of Iowa. He spent some time at the Lakeside Laboratory in the spring and planned to return in August, as was his yearly custom. Survivors include Mrs. Bodine and one son, Joe, of Pennsylvania. Dr. and Mrs. R. L. King and daughter and Dr. and Mrs. LeRoy Saxe and sons of the Laboratory attended the funeral services In Iowa City Monday.

Joseph and Sarah Bodine were buried in Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa.