The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine community is deeply saddened to learn that longtime friend of the college, Evan Werling, of Nashville, Indiana, passed away Sunday, April 9 at his home. He was 77.
Evan is remembered as a faithful, loving husband, CPA, and international entrepreneur. He also loved serving as a career mentor. His connection with Purdue began more than 40 years ago when he first gave lectures to engineering students on the importance of having a strong financial background for career success. When the Werlings’ beloved dog, Brandi, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2005, Evan and Sue Ann developed an enduring relationship with the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Deborah Knapp, Distinguished Professor and the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology, helped enroll Brandi in two studies that extended her life 15 months when the median survival time with most treatments at the time ranged from four to nine months.
The exceptional care Brandi received inspired the Werlings to create an endowment for canine cancer research at Purdue in 2020. Then, just this past December, the Purdue Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center, with Dr. Knapp as director, in recognition of the Werlings’ extraordinary support, which established the center as a part of the College of Veterinary Medicine to partner with the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research to advance cancer research benefiting pets and humans.
“Evan was a caring, passionate, and loyal friend of our college who truly sought to inspire and encourage us to do our utmost for the benefit of animal patients and the advancement of medical science,” said College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed. “He will be deeply missed.” Evan’s loving family and the caring staff of IU Hospice were with him when he passed. A touching message in his words is contained in his obituary, which can be viewed here. A Celebration of Life service is being held this afternoon (Friday, April 14) at 2:00 p.m. at Voss and Son’s Funeral Home in Seymour, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Brown County Humane Society, 128 State Road 135 South, Nashville, IN 47448. Online condolences may be shared with the Werling family at www.vossfuneralservice.com.