WALKER, John Robert, MD 1919-2013
WALKER, WHEELER, MURRAY, PETERSEN, JOHNSTON, CROUSE, LEESE, HEIB, MERSHON, SCHOENBERGER
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/19/2013 at 22:45:05
[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, January 30, 2013]
Dr. John Robert Walker (affectionately known as “Bopper”) died peacefully, after a long and full life, at Covenant Medical Center surrounded by his loving family on Jan. 24, 2013. He was 94 at the time of his death.
Dr. Walker was born on Jan. 4, 1919, in Indianola, the son of Frank Cyrus Walker and Josephine Todd (Wheeler) Walker. He graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1937 where he was an All State Honorable Mention tight end in football and ran the 440 for his track team. He subsequently went on to the University of Iowa Medical School graduating in December 1943. He married Elizabeth Murray (Betty) on Feb. 22, 1943, and they were married for 55 years until her death on Dec. 21, 1998.
Dr. Walker served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II where he served in a Mobile Naval Hospital on Okinawa. He was recalled to Naval service during the Korean War and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife and children. Dr. Walker was always very proud of his military service and considered it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve his country.
Dr. Walker returned with his family to Waterloo, where he practiced orthopedics. During that portion of his early career, he had an opportunity to serve as the team physician to the “Hawks,” a Waterloo professional basketball team that had achieved NBA status for a period of time.
In early 1960, Dr. Walker was a member of a group of orthopedic surgeons known as the “Orthopedic Letters Club.” The Orthopedic Letters Club was an international organization of orthopedic surgeons that exchanged correspondence regarding the latest techniques in their field of orthopedics. In 1960, Dr. Walker, on behalf of the Orthopedics Letters Club, traveled to Jordan, Palestine, to provide medical and surgical services to refugees in that country. The population was riddled with polio and Dr. Walker, along with fellow surgeons, donated time and expertise to care for patients who could not secure medical treatment. Dr. Walker kept statistical information with regard to types of surgeries and the needs of the people and met with King Hussein of Jordan, Palestine, to discuss the need for approving the use of a polio vaccine discovered by Jonas Salk. This endeavor was supported by the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) which was dedicated to the relief of the victims of war.
Dr. Walker was a U.S. Representative of the American College of Surgeons in Vienna, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the International College of Surgeons. He was a past secretary, treasurer, and president of the Iowa Clinical Surgical Society.
Dr. Walker is survived by his nine children: Debbie (Glenn) Petersen of Waterloo, John (Terri) Walker Jr. of Waterloo, Martha (Ross) Johnston of Waterloo, Susan (Jim) Crouse of Waterloo, Trisha (Phil) Leese of Leawood, Kan., Mike (Olivia) Walker of Phoenix, Margie (Chris) Heib of Fargo, N.D., Marietta Mershon of Leawood, Kan., and Elizabeth Schoenberger of Avon, Conn.; 26 grandchildren; and 27 ˝ great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway, where there will be a 2 p.m. rosary and 4 p.m. liturgy. Visitation will continue for one hour before services on Monday.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 1423 Kimball Ave., Waterloo. The interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Waterloo and Evansdale AMVETS Posts 19 and 31 with flag presentation by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be directed to St. Edward’s Church or Honor Flight, 1563 Oakwood Drive, Waterloo, IA 50703.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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