Dr. Donald Julius Ottilie (1919-2006)

OTTILIE, SPIVAK, WALLACE

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

The Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Page 20, Column 4

Dr. Donald J. Ottilie, 87, of Poway, Calif., formerly of Oelwein, died Oct. 20, 2006, in Pomerado Hospital, Poway, from complications of a respiratory illness. His body was cremated.

Survivors include son, Bob Ottilie and daughter-in-law Sharon Spivak of San Diego, Calif.; daughter, Beth Wallace and son-in-law Jerry Wallace of El Dorado Hills, Calif.; brother, Bob of Marshalltown; five grandchildren and a greatgrandchild.

He was preceded in death by 16 days his wife of 30 years, Anna Lou; his son, Bill in 1996; and a son in infancy.

Don was born in Manchester, Iowa, on March 20, 1919. He received both a bachelor's and medical degree from the University of Iowa. Don served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1949 and as chief of obstetrics in Fukuoka, Japan. Upon returning to the United States, Don settled in Oelwein, where he was a family doctor from 1950 until moving to Poway, Calif., in 1979.

Active in many community and medical affairs in Iowa, Don was most proud of his work with the Iowa Legislature and University of Iowa in the 1970s to develop and fund a family practice residency program for prospective family doctors in the state of Iowa. Previously, medical students wanting to go into family practice in Iowa had to leave the state for a residency program. Many never returned. His efforts helped turn the tide in the crisis caused by the loss of family doctors in rural Iowa communities.