Fayne Higgins Oberst, 92, formerly of Manhattan, KS died April 5, 2012 in Palm Bay, Florida. Fayne was born March 12, 1920 to Albert and Bertha (Higgins) Oberst of Conway, KS. He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in July, 1943 from Kansas State University and Masters of Science from Cornell University in 1955. He belonged to Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Zeta/Sigma, Xi/Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Societies. He held many positions at Kansas State University from 1943-1962 including Instructor, Assistant Professor and Professor in the Department of Surgery and Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He served as the Director of Development for VET-A-MIX, Inc., Shenandoah, IA from 1962-1964. He returned to academia serving as the Director of Veterinary Medicine Extension at the University of Missouri from 1964-1965; Professor and Department Head, Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, and Director of Clinics at Michigan State University from 1965-1974; and Professor and Head of Medicine and Surgery, and Director of the Boren Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Oklahoma State University from 1974-1984; and Emeritus Professor from Oklahoma State University from 1984 to the time of his death.

Fayne was on the Organizing Committee, a Charter Diplomate, and the second President of the American College of Theriogenologists. He was a life member of the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association and served as president in 1961. He was a life member of the American Veterinary Medical Association serving as Treasurer from 1970-1972; President-Elect & President from 1972-1974; on the AVMA Council on Veterinary Services from 1965-1975 and Chairman for 7 years; and a member of the original Animal Technicians Committee.

Fayne Oberst was a highly recognized educator receiving the Outstanding Norden Teacher Award from Norden Labs while at Michigan State University in 1968 and a Special Award for Teaching Veterinary Students from Michigan State University in 1974. In 1974 he received the Service Award from the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association; a Special Award from Oklahoma State Future Farmers in 1983; the Clinician of the Year Award from Oklahoma State University in 1988. In 1998 he received the KSU Distinguished Alumnus award from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

After retirement Fayne remained active by becoming a Master Gardener, volunteering for Meals On Wheels in his community, participating in bible study groups and several church committees.

He had been a resident in Barefoot Bay, FL since 1985 and a member of St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church of Sebastian, FL. He was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife for 65 years, Anne Charlson Oberst, his parents, and his sister Jean Beaver. He is survived by his daughter, Diane O. (Robert) Erickson of Paluski, TN; his sons Dr. Richard D. Oberst (Jacque Staats) of Manhattan, KS and Mark D. (Ann) Oberst of Micco, FL; his sister Ann Keim of Meridian, ID; two grandchildren, Allen Oberst and Robin (Erickson) Ammerman, and two great-grandchildren, Elyse and Anthony Gosselin. Whether you knew Fayne as family, as a friend, as a colleague, or as a student, you knew he was special and he will be truly missed. A memorial service at St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church of Sebastian, FL will be held Saturday May 12, 2012 at 10:30am. Condolences may be left at http://www.seawindsfh.com/.