James S. Haeger, 96, died Jan. 3, 2011, at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach.
He was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and lived in Vero Beach since 1953.
Before retirement, he spent most of his life in the study, control and abatement of the Florida mosquito and worked for the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.
He also worked to save McKee Jungle Gardens and did research with mosquitoes on Sanibel Island for several years.
He served in the Army Medical Corps of World War II in the Pacific with the malaria control units.
He was a member of the Community Church of Vero Beach since 1953 and the Native Plant Society, where he helped school landscape committees with establishment of butterfly habitats and nature trails.
He graduated from the University of Florida in 1947.
He received the Maurice W. Provost Memorial Award in 1991 from the University of Florida.
Survivors include his sons, Wm. James Haeger and Daniel Scott Haeger, both of Vero Beach, and Robert C. Haeger, of Waterloo, Canada; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bette.
Memorial contributions may be made to McKee Botanical Garden, 350 U.S. 1, Vero Beach, FL 32962.
A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Grace Chapel of Community Church in Vero Beach, followed by a reception.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach.
A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
