Donald Julius OTTILIE, M.D.

OTTILIE, SPIVAK, WALLACE, MUCKEY, CONLEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:44

Donald Julius Ottilie, M.D.
20 March 1919 --- 20 October 2006

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.

The Gazette --- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thursday, November 16, 2006

*****
Donald J. Ottilie died at age 87 on October 20, 2006 in Poway, California from complications of a respiratory illness. 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 United States Army from 1947 to 1949 as the Chief of Obstetrics in Fukuoka, Japan. Upon returning to the United States, Don completed a one-year family practice residency in Bakersfield, California, before returning to Iowa where he was a family doctor in the town of Oelwein from 1950 until moving to Poway in 1979. In Don's practice in Iowa, which preceded government and HMO control of medicine, he treated entire families for all their medical needs throughout their lives. While maintaining a busy clinical practice, he also delivered babies, made hospital rounds, set fractures, attended in the emergency room, assisted in surgery and made house calls. He took pride in his skill as a diagnostician and was quick to refer his patients to better facilities or specialists. Active in many community and medical affairs in Iowa and a supporter of the University of 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 in his home state. 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 turned the tide in the crisis caused by the loss of family doctors in rural Iowa communities.

In 1976, after a divorce from his wife of 29 years, Don married Anna Lou Muckey. They moved to Poway in 1979 where Don continued as a family doctor until his retirement in 1995 at the age of 76. Don was preceded in death by 16 days by his wife of 30 years, Anna Lou, and son Bill, who died in 1996, as well as a son in infancy. Don is survived by a brother, Bob Ottilie of Marshalltown, Iowa, son and daughter-in-law Bob Ottilie and Sharon Spivak of San Diego and their daughter Madeline, daughter and son-in-law Beth and Jerry Wallace of El Dorado Hills, California, and their sons Nick and Zack. He is also survived by son Bill's children, Chris Conley and Marty Ottilie, residents of Illinois.

San Diego Union-Tribune -- San Diego, California
October 30, 2006

***

[Interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield, Wright County, Iowa]