Downing, Wendell L. (died 1966)

DOWNING, COONS, STARK

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/6/2012 at 15:01:39

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, September 15, 1966

Dr. Wendell L. Downing, 72, longtime Le Mars physician and surgeon, died Thursday evening at Sacred Heart hospital where he had been a patient for 16 days. Dr. Downing had been in ill health for several months.

FUNERAL SERVICES will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian church, with Rev. James Ransom officiating. Burial will be in Le Mars Memorial cemetery under direction of the Mauer funeral home.

A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Survivors are his wife, Marion; a daughter, Mrs. Hugh (Margaret) Cooper Jr. of Ann Arbor, Mich., and a son. Dr. Wendell K. Downing, a surgeon in Des Moines. There are five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Helen in 1934.

IN EARLY 1965, Dr. Downing was named Le Mars' most outstanding citizen by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a member. He was active in fraternal, social, cultural and civic affairs in the community.

Dr. Wendell L. Downing was born in Moulton, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. His father, William, was a graduate of Rush Medical college in Chicago, and practiced medicine in Moulton for 53 years. His mother was the late Martha Coons.

Dr. Downing's grandfathers, Samuel B. Downing and Richard Coons, were both early pioneers in Davis county in southern Iowa where they were farmers. Samuel Downing was also an ordained minister in the Methodist church and was the first circuit rider for this church in Iowa. He was also a member of the Iowa Senate and a veteran of the Mexican war. His wife, Tilatha Stark, was a cousin of Daniel Boone.

WENDELL L. DOWNING was educated at Drake university in Des Moines and was a graduate of the Minnesota medical school. He joined the Le Mars clinic in 1920. This same year Marion Klenk of Easton, Minn., came to Le Mars to teach English in the high school and the couple was married in 1922.

Dr. Downing was the author of 20 articles published in state and national medical journals. He also has written a history of medicine in Plymouth county and histories of Wasmer post, American Legion, and Co. K of the Iowa National Guard.

After serving as counselor and trustee of the Iowa State Medical society, he was elected to the presidency in 1956-1957. In 1962, he was presented the merit award by the state society for outstanding service to the profession.

Dr. Downing was a charter member of the Lions club and served as a member of the Le Mars Park board from 1946 to 1964. He had also served the community in many other capacities. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Le Mars.