It is with profound sadness that the family of Dexter Northrop announces his passing away in the very early morning of Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 82 years.

Dexter Brunswick Northrop was born in Faribault, Minnesota, March 23, 1940, son of the late Dr. Harson and Tessie (nee: Oftedahl) Northrop of Owatonna and was the fifth of seven children.

Dexter was a graduate of Owatonna High School, class of 1958. In 1962 Dexter received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College where he enjoyed playing his trombone and was known for his perfect pitch. In 1969 he received a PhD in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). For two years he was an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Research Fellow, first at Harvard and then at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1971 he joined the faculty at the School of Pharmacy in Wisconsin where he taught biochemistry. His research focused on enzyme kinetics and reaction mechanisms. He spoke internationally in his field.

On June 19, 2004, he was united in marriage to, as he said, "the love of his life," Lynn Van Campen. It was reciprocated!

He was a man of many interests and hobbies. He loved bicycling, skiing, golf, and traveling the U.S. and Europe with Lynn. He and Lynn shared their love of music which brought them together, especially when Dexter sat down to his piano and masterfully played the music of Chopin, Brahms, and other favorites. They rarely missed their beloved Madison Symphony Orchestra performances. His interest in world affairs meant that discussing politics was a favorite with family and friends. If there were anything that needed fixing, Dexter found or invented a way to fix or improve it.

Family was of prime importance – beginning with Lynn. He had no hesitation to jump in the car to visit his family in Owatonna at the Northrop House in which they all grew up. In 2021 he proposed a family reunion and brought the Van Campen family together at the Northrop House. It brought joy to him that the VC contingent could get to know some of his family there.

He will be deeply missed. Survivors include his wife Lynn, and his siblings: sister Sara Jean (Northrop) Stewart, brothers Richard (Kay) Northrop, Gregory (Val) Northrop; many nieces and nephews, including particularly close niece Nina Stewart Sellner (Eric); sisters-in-law Marianne Van Campen Decker (Frank) of Princeton, NJ, Karen Van Campen Jansson (Peter) of Racine, WI; brother-in-law Berington Van Campen, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA., and five nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Dexter is pre-deceased by his sister Nina Northrop McGahan and brothers Frederick (Pat) Northrop, and Cyrus (Billie) Northrop

Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. on Friday, March 3, 2023, at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, 1500 SE 18th St, Owatonna, MN with Pastor Nathan Palmer officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Friday at the church from 10 A.M. until time of service.

Memorials to the Madison Symphony Orchestra (madisonsymphony.org), the American Heart Association – stroke research (heart.org) or Brain Research Foundation (thebrf.org) are suggested.