Dr. David Belgum 1922-2007

BELGUM

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 4/13/2007 at 14:14:25

Dr. David Belgum, 84, of Iowa City died Thursday, April 12, 2007 at Oaknoll Retirement
Residence of complications from a heart attack.

Funeral Services to celebrate David’s life will be Monday, April 16, 2007 at 11:30am
at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with Rev. Karl Koch officiating. Friends may call Monday after 10am at the church, where Sunday parking will apply from 10 to 2pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at UIHC c/o the University of Iowa Foundation. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

Dr. Belgum was born December 22, 1922 in Glenwood, Minnesota. He received his BA in Sociology from the University of Minnesota in 1944, and his BD in 1946 from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Dr. Belgum received his Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion from Boston University and completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Michigan. He was united in marriage to Katherine Geigenmueller on August 8, 1953 at Christ Lutheran Church in Monroe, Michigan.

Dr. Belgum was a child therapist at Ypsilanti State Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan from
1952-53, and then established the Clinical Education Program at both the University of
Minnesota and the Minneapolis General Hospital. In 1964, Dr. Belgum became Associate
Professor at the University of Iowa School of Religion, and in 1969 Professor. Dr. Belgum established the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at UIHC, serving as Director from 1964-1987. His seminars at the University included, “Death and Dying; Stigma: Medical Ethics”. He retired in 1987 as Professor Emeritus.

Throughout the years he traveled to China, Pakistan, Mexico, Iceland and Papua, New Guinea to study the cultural approaches to medical treatment. He was instrumental in establishing the annual memorial service at Oakland Cemetery which is held in memory of those who donated their body to science. Dr. Belgum authored thirty-two books and booklets, including “Dealing with Death, Dying and Mourning”, which was published in 2006. He was the editor of ‘Living with Parkinson’s Disease”, which will be published this year.

Following retirement, Dr. Belgum served as the pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch until 1994.

Dr. Belgum was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. He served as the Mayor of University Heights for six years and had served on numerous boards and committees.

Dr. Belgum is survived by his wife, Katherine and their three children, Karl (Veronique
Nusquar) Belgum of San Francisco,CA. and their children, Chloe and Nicolas, Kurt (Gretchen) Belgum and their children, Erik and Kate of Atlanta, GA., and Kit (Forrest)
Novy of Austin,TX. and their children, Morgan and Mariah; one sister, Dorothy Belgum
Knight and one nephew, Joe Knight, both of St. Paul, MN.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harald and Joseph.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.