John Robert HUEY, MD

HUEY, BROWNING, LORTZ

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/20/2006 at 23:49:52

The Gazette (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City)
April 8, 2003

John Robert Huey, M.D., 81, a retired orthopaedic surgeon from Cedar Rapids, died of cancer on Sunday, April 6, 2003, at his home in Rio Verde, Ariz. He was born Aug. 7, 1921, in Rowan, Iowa. Dr. Huey grew up in Wright County, Iowa, graduating from Rowan High School. He received his B.A. degree in 1943 and his M.D. in 1945, both from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He married the former Margaret Browning in Iowa City, Aug. 11, 1945. While in medical school the students were sworn into the United States Armed Services. He became a Pfc under the Army Student Training Program. Upon graduation from medical school the students were commissioned first lieutenants but allowed to serve a civilian internship, which he served at White Cross Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Upon completion of his one-year internship he was placed on detached service with the Veterans Administration and stationed in Knoxville, Iowa, as a captain at the Veterans Administration's neuro-psychiatric Hospital. He was later transferred to the VA General Medical and Surgical Hospital in Fargo, N.D. After his discharge from the Army he remained at the Fargo Hospital for another year where he served a one-year residency in general surgery. Three years of residency training in orthopaedic surgery followed in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio State University Hospital, Children's Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and White Cross Hospital. In 1952, Dr. Huey opened his office for the practice of Orthopaedic Surgery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. By the time of his retirement in 1984 he had accumulated six partners in his orthopaedic practice. The following year he became an in-house consultant for the law firm of Shuttleworth and Ingersoll, advising on workers' compensation and accident cases. In November 1988, Dr. and Mrs. Huey moved to Rio Verde, Ariz. Dr. Huey was a member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a member of Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society, charter member of Mid-America Orthopaedic Society, past president of the Iowa Orthopaedic Society, member of American Medical Association, Iowa Medical Society, Linn County Medical Society, Mercy Hospital medical staff, past-president, St. Luke's Hospital medical staff, past board member of the Cedar Rapids Cerebral Palsy Center and the State Cerebral Palsy Board of Iowa. He was appointed to the board of governors of the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Twin Cities unit, serving five years, two years as treasurer.Although he was very active in medical activities, Dr. Huey was very civic minded and served five years on the Board of Directors of the Cedar Rapids-Marion Area Chamber of Commerce. He was elected president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1981. Dr. Huey spent 12 years on the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission, several years as chairman. He was a pilot and a member of Flying Physicians Association. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of El Kahir Shrine and a former impresario of the Royal Order of Jesters, Court 139. He had been a board member of the Cedar Rapids Art Museum, a 50-year member of the Cedar Rapids Rotary Club and a legislative representative for the University of Iowa. He was a past commodore of the Okoboji Yacht Club at Lake Okoboji, where the Hueys have had a summer home for 39 years.

Dr. Huey is survived by his widow, Margaret, and four children: Rita of Denver, Colo., John Jr. (Patti) of Cedar Rapids, Lisa of Minneapolis and Marilyn Lortz (Mike) of Edmond, Okla. There are six grandchildren: Brandon, Sarah and Layne Huey and Michael, Barrett and Braeden Lortz.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5111 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85250; St. Luke's Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 3026, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406; Mercy Medical Center Foundation, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; Lakes Art Center, 2201 Highway 71 N, Okoboji, IA 51355; or the Rowan Library-Community Center, l03 Main St., Rowan, IA 50470.