Klitgaard, Donald Richard (1968 - 2021)

KLITGAARD, WHITEHORN, BUCK, SCHWERY, GAMBS, LIGHT, PETERSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/1/2021 at 17:15:32

Name of deceased: Dr. Donald Richard Klitgaard

Aged: 53 yrs, 5 mo, 12 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: May 27, 1968; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Died: Nov. 8, 2021; Harlan, Shelby County, IA (colon cancer)

Funeral services: Monday, Nov. 15, 2021; First Baptist Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife of 33 years, Laurel of Harlan, IA; children, Ellen (spouse, J.W.) Whitehorn of St. Louis, MO and Andrew “Jack” of Harlan, IA; granddaughter, Esther Whitehorn; siblings, Steve (spouse, Carolue) Klitgaard of Pocatello, ID, and Jane (spouse, Larry) Buck of Lime Springs, IA; brother-in-law, Joel Schwery of Lenexa, KS; brother-in-law, Nick (spouse, Jane) Gambs of Dunlap, IA; sister-in-law, Barbara (spouse, Terry) Light of Hawthorne, CA; parents-in-law, Ed and Eleanor Gambs of Logan, IA; nieces;, nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Richard and Mary (nee Petersen) Klitgaard; sister, Barb Schwery

Education: Attended Harlan (IA) Community Schools and graduated as valedictorian from Harlan High School with the Class of 1986. His high school activities included playing trombone in the band, 4-H, Methodist Youth Fellowship, track, and football. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1990, majoring in zoology. In 1996 he earned his M.D. from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his residency in the Lincoln Family Practice Residency Program in Lincoln, NE in 1999.

Religious affiliation: Member of and served First Baptist Church, Harlan, IA, as a deacon, a youth group leader, and a mission trip leader

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Laurel Sue Gambs; July 2, 1988; First United Methodist Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: Following completion of his residency, Don returned to Harlan and practiced Family Medicine for 15 years, serving as Medical Director of the Myrtue Medical Center clinics in Harlan. During this time, he served as the physician champion for the TransforMED National Demonstration Project and led their subsequent Patient-Centered Medical Home transformation efforts. He served as President and Board Chair of the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP), President of the IAFP Foundation, and as a member of the AMA Committee of Innovators. He was also actively involved in the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association, the Iowa Medical Society, and the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative. Don was awarded the AAFP’s Boundary Breakers award in 2021.

Beginning in 2012, Dr. Klitgaard was dedicated to the creation and growth of Heartland Rural Physician Alliance, a statewide independent physician association that helps medical practices in Iowa thrive in the world of value-based purchasing and healthcare delivery transformation, topics on which Dr. Klitgaard was a nationally-recognized expert. In May 2015, Dr. Klitgaard created and served as CEO of MedLink Advantage, a healthcare consulting and Accountable Care Organization (ACO) management company. Dr. Klitgaard served as Chief Medical Officer for Ascent Physician Leadership and as Director of Leadership Strategy for the Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association (IPMA).

Hobbies/Interests: Don volunteered as an AYSO soccer coach for 12 years, a Destination Imagination coach, and Cyclone Track Club coach. Don became very involved in the Boy Scouts of America as an adult. He followed his son Jack through the program and transformed the local troop when he became scout leader. He led the troop to many adventures at Camp Cedars, including canoeing 160 miles down the Missouri River, backpacking at Ben Delatour Scout Ranch in Colorado, snow camping at Tomahawk Scout Reservation in Wisconsin, and backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He was also the scout leader for a contingent to the National Jamboree in 2017. Sixteen scouts earned their Eagle rank under his leadership, and he taught numerous merit badge classes and Wilderness First Aid. Don volunteered as a physician at multiple Scout camps. He was awarded the District Award of Merit by the Ohwahnassee District in 2020.

An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Don enjoyed hunting pheasants and waterfowl, hiking, camping, lake fishing and deep sea fishing and surfcasting in Florida, and trying to hook Walleye and Northern Pike in Minnesota and in Canada.

Don’s other hobbies included woodworking, photography, gardening, collecting coins, and playing board games and card games with his family. He traveled extensively with his wife and children; favorite destinations were Disneyland and Walt Disney World, where he engaged in another favorite hobby, pin trading.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com