Clyde D. Stoltenberg, a staple of the Barton School of Business, died unexpectedly last week while returning from an academic conference in Eastern Europe. He was 65.

Born in Davenport on Sept. 14, 1947, Stoltenberg made his way to Wichita State after many years of traveling for his scholarly pursuits.

“He was very active and Clyde was a wonderful instructor, brought an immense amount of experience and really unique experience,” Steve Farmer, Department Chair & W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in Business said.

Stoltenberg received his undergraduate degree in the classics from the University of Iowa; a graduate degree from the Columbia University School of International Affairs, where he specialized in East Asian studies and international law and organization. He also earned a juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law School.

He practiced law in Illinois for eight years and then spent a year as a visiting professor of business law at the University of Kansas, 1980-1981.

His contacts with KU and visit to China changed his focus from a future in business to an academic career. He taught at the University of Kansas for almost 20 years, specializing in international business and business law as well as traveling to a verity of other universities domestic and aboard to teach.

In 2008, Stoltenberg was enticed by the opportunity WSU offered him, to take up the Barton distinguished chair in international business, where he continued teaching.

The Barton School of Business lost a great wealth of knowledge for this upcoming semester as well as a warm and caring professor.

Stoltenberg spent his life traveling and teaching to sculpt the business minds of the future, a pursuit he carried out until his final days, leaving behind students and colleagues who have benefitted greatly from his work and his friendship.

“It’s really important to recognize people that have passed, especially when they have spent so much time working with students.” Farmer said.

The memorial services for Stoltenberg will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., Davenport, Iowa.

His Survivors include his mother, Gloria Stoltenberg, Davenport; brother, Steven Stoltenberg, Davenport; sister and brother-in-law, Wendy Stoltenberg and Greg Huang, and nephew, Justin Huang, all of Iowa City. He was preceded in death by his father in 2009 and sister-in-law, Sandy Stoltenberg, in 2013.