A.G. Alroy West (1912-2003)

WEST

Posted By: Dusters
Date: 2/26/2003 at 22:01:45

The Daily Nonpareil
25 Feb 2003

A.G. Alroy West, M.D.

The funeral for A.G. Alroy West, M.D., 91, formerly of Council Bluffs, will be Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home with Angela Murphy officiating.

Dr. West died Feb. 22 in Lytle, Texas.

He was born Jan. 20, 1912, in Mountain View, Canada, to John Norris West and Margaret Biringer West. He was raised on the West family ranch, a working cattle ranch, located just north of Mountain View, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. He was the youngest, and at the time of his death, the last survivor of five brothers.

He worked on the ranch until 1932. By this time, he had decided to pursue a career as a doctor and enrolled in the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. After two years, he transferred to the University of Creighton Medical School in Omaha. He graduated in 1938. He then interned at Mercy Hospital for one year after which he then completed his residency at the County Hospital in Omaha.

Dr. West opened his practice in Oakland in late 1940. In 1943, he opened his Council Bluffs office. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and was assigned to a field hospital unit attached to the 1st Army. He landed at Normandy several days after the June 6 invasion. His hospital unit was assigned to operate within one to three miles of the front lines and was the forefather of today's Army MASH units. He was almost captured at St. Vie during the Battle of the Bulge breakthrough by the Germans. Although his unit was evacuated, Dr. West and his team were in the middle of surgery and left behind. Upon completion of the surgery, and as the team was exiting the hospital compound to the west, the Germans were rolling into that same compound from the east. They were, at this time, almost three miles behind the main German lines. Narrowly escaping capture, it was several days before the entire surgical team and their patient were able to rejoin their unit. Upon completion of the war in Europe, Dr. West returned to Council Bluffs and resumed his practice.

Although his practice was located in the Council Bluffs office, he operated two nights a week in Oakland. This was eventually reduced to only one night but continued through the years until about 1970. He was a staff doctor at both Mercy and Jennie Edmundson hospitals. During surgeries, the nurses always knew it was Dr. West by his red socks.

He enjoyed traveling, taking trips to Hawaii, Alaska and Europe. Several trips were made back to his native home in Mountain View to see family and friends.

He was the track doctor at Playland Park for several years.

He was an avid horse racing fan, never missing an opening day at Ak-Sar-Ben in 43 years.

Dr. West retired in 1980 after 43 years in the medical profession.

He was married to Betty Jean Nielsen in 1946. They had three children, John, Robert and Susan. They also took in and rasied Betty's sister's son, Chuck. They were married 51 years when Betty died in 1998.

He then moved to Texas and lived with his son and daugther-in-law, John and Kay. While in Texas, he not only enjoyed horse racing, but also cruises aboard the Texas Treasure casino ship based at Port Aransas on the Gulf Coast. He enjoyed watching football, with his favorite teams being the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. He even came to like the Dallas Cowboys, although that took some persuasion from John and Kay.

Survivors include his son, John, and his wife, Kay, and grandson James of Lytle; son Robert and his wife, Sharlene, of Omaha; and daughter, Susan, of Berkeley Springs, Va; numerous nephews and nieces, including Chuck Collett and his wife, Beverly; Joanne Christensen and her husband, Mark, and their son, Matt; Edward Nielsen and his wife, Hazel, and their son, Edward Jr.

He is now reunited with Betty. May he rest in peace.

Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ridgewood Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post No. 2.

Memorials may be offered to Creighton University and Alegent Health Mercy Hospital.

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