John D. Haltiwanger, 83, died on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at Meadowbrook Health Center, Urbana, IL.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2008 at First United Methodist Church, 210 W. Church St., Champaign, IL with Dr. Terry Harter officiating.

The son of David S. and Susan D. Haltiwanger, he was born in Richland County, S.C., on June 10, 1925. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1945 with a BS degree in Civil Engineering, and served in the U. S. Navy during WWII. He received his MS and PhD degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1948 and 1957, respectively, majoring in structural engineering.

His professional career began in the fall of 1946 with his appointment as an Instructor in Civil Engineering at The Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). He served on that faculty until 1951, when he joined the Civil Engineering faculty of the University of Illinois. Except for 1977-78, during which he served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Civil Engineering at the US Air Force Academy, he served continuously on the U of I faculty until his retirement in 1990.

During his tenure at the University of Illinois, Prof. Haltiwanger was active in faculty governance issues and served on numerous major committees of that faculty, including chairmanships of University Senate Council of the U-C campus (1972-73) and the multi-campus University Senates Conference (1975-76). From 1967 until 1983, except for the year at the Air Force Academy, he served as Associate Head for Undergraduate Affairs of the Department of Civil Engineering.

Prof. Haltiwanger held membership in a number of professional societies including, the American Society for Engineering Education, The American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers, in which he was especially active, serving as Chairman of the Committee on Structural Dynamics of the Engineering Mechanics Division (1959-61), Secretary of the Structural Division (1960-63), Chairman of the Committee on Research of the Structural Division (1964-67) and as a member of numerous other technical committees of the Society. From 1990 until 1998, he served as Central District Councilor and member of the National Council of Chi Epsilon, the national Civil Engineering Honorary Society.

His public service activities included membership on the Illinois State Technical Services Advisory Council, service as the U of I Institutional Representative for State Technical Services, member of the Executive Committee of the Illinois-Iowa Interinstitutional Committee for Graduate Education in the Illinois-Iowa Quad-Cities, Chairman and University of .Illinois Representative on the Quad-Cities Program Planning Task Force, member of the U. S. Coast Guard Academic Advisory Committee, and numerous others.

Through numerous research contracts and consulting assignments, he was closely associated with the nuclear weapons effects program of the U. S. Department of Defense from the mid-1950's until 2002. During these years, he served as consultant to numerous agencies of the DOD and to private engineering firms on problems related to the behavior and design of structures when subjected to nuclear blast effects. He co-authored, with N. M. Newmark, The Air Force Manual for the Design of Hardened Structures. With the passage of time, that volume became generally recognized as the defining piece of work of that era in the blast vulnerability field. From 1991 until 2000, through the firm of H & H Consultants, Inc., he served as a consultant to the U. S. Defense Nuclear Safety Board on a variety of issues related to the structural adequacy of those facilities.

Among the more significant of the professionally associated awards that he received during the course of his career were a Public Service Commendation from the United States Coast Guard, the Meritorious Public Service Award by the U. S. Coast Guard, the Bliss Medal of the Society of American Military Engineers, an Outstanding Civil Engineering Teacher Award by the U of I ASCE Student Chapter, and election to Honorary Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Champaign, IL for over 40 years.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret, their two daughters, Rae Ann Matthews (Gary) of Avon Lake, OH, and Lynn Peck (Glenn) of Rochester, NY, two grandchildren, David and Megan Matthews, one niece and two nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, George E. Haltiwanger and sister, Martha H. Matthews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Civil Engineering Trust Fund through the University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., MC-386, Urbana, IL 61801 or to First United Methodist Church, 210 W. Church St., Champaign, IL 61820. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 Philo Road, Urbana. Expressions of sympathy for the family may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.

Ascension

And if I go, while you're still here... know that I live on. Vibrating to a different measure -behind a thin veil you cannot see through. You will not see me, so you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar together again, -both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to its fullest. And when you need me, Just whisper my name in your heart, ... I will be there.

Colleen Corah Hitchcock