William Lloyd Mengeling

Obituary For William Lloyd Mengeling

Dr. William (Bill) Lloyd Mengeling, 92, an Ames resident for 61 years, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025 at The Woodlands, Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kiwanis Ames Golden K Club, Iowa State Foundation- Reiman Gardens, or Youth and Shelter Services of Ames.

Bill will be remembered as someone who never stopped learning. After graduating high school, his father borrowed his own father’s car - and a few dollars - to drive Bill to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. There they met with the university president to see if the school could support Bill’s educational aspirations. Following that successful meeting, Bill enrolled at UW-Platteville until he was drafted into military service, where he was assigned to the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.

After his service, he attended Kansas State University, earning both his Bachelor of Science (1958) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (1960). Most fortuitously, it was also at K-State where he met his lifelong partner and wife, Barbara Ann Kethcart.

Following a brief time in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Barbara and Bill moved to Ames, Iowa where he began his long career at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC). As a veterinary research virologist, Bill’s expertise and leadership led to his appointment as an NADC research leader in 1969, and in 1991 he was recognized as a research leader within the United States Senior Executive Service.

Bill was a pioneering veterinary virologist whose work significantly advanced the understanding and control of viral diseases in swine. At NADC, his research focused on hog cholera, porcine parvovirus, pseudorabies, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). His development of diagnostic tests and vaccines played a crucial role in eradicating hog cholera from the United States, saving the swine industry millions of dollars annually. He was also the first to isolate porcine parvovirus in the U.S., laying the groundwork for improved disease prevention and control strategies.

Beyond his professional life, Bill had a deep love of canoeing, camping, and fishing. His home office was decorated with pictures of those he traveled with and the fish they caught. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, serving as president from 1975 to 1976. After retiring from NADC, Bill founded a local coffee group in Ames that brought together friends with shared interests- a group that continues to meet to this day.

As a resident of Ames for more than 60 years, Bill was a devoted Cyclone fan. He regularly attended both men’s and women’s sporting events. In the last few years, he only agreed to move to “Hawkeye Country” at his daughter’s request with the assurance that he would still have access to Cyclone TV.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 64 years, Barbara. He is survived by his daughter Michelle Mengeling (Bill Prescott) of Iowa City and their two children Ian and Jillian; his son Michael “Mike” Mengeling (Gail) of Cumming, Georgia and their daughter Samantha “Sam”; and his brothers, Daniel “Dan” Mengeling (Diana) of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Craig Mengeling (Debbie) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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