The WVMA is pleased to recognize eight members who attained 50 years of continuous membership with the WVMA in 2020. They include:
Richard Burchinal, DVM – Dr. Burchinal is a 1964 graduate of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he served two years of active duty with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps as the Fort Carson station veterinarian in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he practiced as a small animal veterinarian with the Animal Clinic in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a position he held until his retirement in 2008. Dr. Burchinal and his wife, Elizabeth, currently reside in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Daniel Goller, DVM – Dr. Goller is a 1970 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He spent his career primarily
in food animal practice at Cornell Veterinary Practice in Wisconsin and had a special interest in bovine reproduction. His fondest memories of practicing veterinary medicine involved the people and the close friendships he developed with his clients. Dr. Goller was active in his local VMA, serving two terms as president. He and his wife, Nancy, have remained in Cornell since his retirement in 2011.
James Helms, DVM – A University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dr. Helms spent 36 years in mixed animal practice at Pulaski Veterinary Clinic in Wisconsin. Dr. Helms enjoyed his career, saying he was able to meet some great people – both clients and veterinarians. One of his fondest memories includes performing a successful right aortic arch procedure on a five-week-old German Shepherd puppy. Dr. Helms retired in 2007. He and his wife, Edith, now reside in Sturgeon, Missouri.
R. William Kuhn, DVM – Dr. Kuhn is a 1966 graduate of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He spent most of his career (42 years) at Marathon Animal Hospital S. C. in Wausau, Wisconsin, a small-animal-exclusive practice. Dr. Kuhn served on the WVMA Executive Board from 1982 to 1985. He truly enjoyed his veterinary medical career and looked forward to every practice day. He retired in 2014, and said it was an extremely difficult step to take. Dr. Kuhn and his wife, Carol, currently reside in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Curtis Perry, DVM – A 1966 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Perry began his career at a small animal clinic in Decatur, Illinois. In 1968, he answered an ad to practice at Belle City Veterinary Clinic in Racine, Wisconsin, where the owner was nearing retirement and was willing to work with him to finance the practice. Dr. Perry built a new clinic in 1978 and continued to practice there until 2001, when he sold the practice. He semi-retired in 2003, then spent about eight years volunteering at the Racine Humane Society and the Humane Animal Welfare Society in Waukesha doing surgery. He continues to do small animal surgery today at the Caledonia Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Perry and his wife, Susan, reside in Franksville, Wisconsin.
David Rhoda, DVM – Dr. Rhoda is a 1966 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He began his career as a mixed animal practitioner, but within two years he focused on food animal species (swine and dairy). Dr. Rhoda has been active in the WVMA, serving on numerous committees and task forces and as an executive board member from 1999-2002. Retirement was a gradual process for Dr. Rhoda. In 2004, an injury forced him to retire from practice. In 2007, he retired from University of Wisconsin (UW) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Extension work as a milk quality specialist; in 2014, he retired from being a UW Farm and Industry Short Course instructor; and in 2019, he retired from Larson Acres’ healthcare team. Dr. Rhoda and his wife, Joy, currently reside in Evansville, Wisconsin.
Jim Rupnow, DVM – A 1969 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Rupnow spent the first two and a half years in mixed practice at the Wausau Animal Hospital. It was at that time that he purchased the large animal portion and formed Wisconsin Valley Veterinary Service, also located in Wausau. It was a large-animal-only practice for the first five years, while he grew it to a three-person practice. In 1976, he built a new clinic and expanded to include small animal and up to five veterinarians. Dr. Rupnow retired from his practice in 2017 and now does consulting work for Northern Lakes Veterinary Supply. He and his wife, Susan, currently reside in Columbus, Wisconsin.
Ronald Shiffler, DVM – Dr. Shiffler is a 1969 graduate of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, he visited several veterinary clinics but ultimately decided to practice large animal medicine at Medford Veterinary Clinic in Wisconsin. At the time, it was a three-veterinarian practice, but as small animal medicine expanded it grew to as many as 10 veterinarians. Dr. Schiffler said his fondest memory of practicing veterinary medicine was enjoying the seemingly routine life of a country veterinarian – which often was not so routine! He retired in 2014 and currently resides in Medford with his wife, Molly.