Dr. Stephen Charles GLEASON

GLEASON, POLLARD, SISSEL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 10/4/2010 at 13:11:40

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Acclaimed Doctor Grew up in Kellerton, Iowa

Doctor Gleason, found dead a week ago,
was born at the Decatur County Hospital

The tragic death of Doctor Stephen GLEASON who was found dead on Saturday, March 25, shocked the state and many parts of the nation as he was an acclaimed physician and was an advisor during the President CLINTON administration. The papers and news have been full of the situation surrounding his death, but his great career as a physician and his envolvement in government is renown.

Doctor Stephen GLEASON was born in Leon, Iowa, in 1946. His family lived in Kellerton, but because there was no hospital there, he was born at the Decatur County Hospital. His dad, Gerald "Jerry" owned a beauty shop, helped at the POLLARD Grocery Store in Kellerton which was owned by his uncle, Howard, and they also ran the Gambles Store, which was a hardware store.

The GLEASONS moved to Des Moines in 1952 where Jerry GLEASON took a job with Bankers Life now known as Principal.

Chris, Steve's brother, stated, "We have fond memories of coming to the parks in Leon and going swimming in the Leon Swimming Pool." He went on to state in an interview with Corey LINDSEY that the family enjoyed visiting on the farm of their Aunt and Uncle SISSEL in Kellerton where they loved to fish and hunt in their youth. "Kellerton is where our roots are," Chris GLEASON said.

Doctor GLEASON was a former chief of staff for Governor Tom VILSACK and former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. He was 59 when he died.

Governor VILSACK stated, "He was a passionate and caring public servant and made many contributions to state and federal goverenment."

GLEASON graduated from medical school in 1974 and later became chief of family practice medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. He was a health care advisor to President CLINTON, and helped establish the administration's coverage for all Americans. He was Governor VILSACK'S chief of staff in 2002.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2010