PREECE, Dr. Wade Owen: Died 1993

PREECE, WADE, CARRABINE, MONTGOMERY, MOLUMBY, MCCORMACK

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 2/3/2026 at 12:54:03

VB Reg
11 MAR 93

Wade Owen Preece

Dr. Wade Owen Preece of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away at 11:10 P.M. Thursday, March 4, 1993 at the age of 96. His family advised that he died of natural causes due to his age. Funeral service and a Mass was held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 8, 1993 at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Waterloo. The family requests that contributions, for those who wish, be given to the Covenant Foundation, Inc., 3421 West Ninth Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50702 or to St. Edward's Catholic Church.

Wade Owen Preece was born November 29, 1896 in Battle Creek, Nebraska. He was the son of Timothy and Elene Wade Preece of Battle Creek, early Nebraska pioneers. Wade Preece's paternal grandparents were Douglas Preece who was born in 1845 in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa and Mary Carrabine Preece. Douglas was the son of Thomas and Sarah Montgomery Preece who were Iowa pioneers in Van Buren, Lee and Montgomery counties, Iowa between 1840 and 1860. Wade Preece's maternal grandparents were Owen and Eliza Wade of Jesup, Iowa and Norwalk, Nebraska.

Wade Preece attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and graduated from St. Louis University in St. Louis University in St. Louis in1922 with a B.S. and a M.D. He interned in New York City from 1922-1925 at the Knickerbocker and St. Vincent's hospitals.

He came to Waterloo, Iowa in 1925 as a partner of John E. O'Keefe. The firm became O'Keefe, Preece and O'Keefe when Dr. Paul O'Keefe joined the firm. Both Wade and Paul O'Keefe were nephews of John O'Keefe. Wade's mother, Elene Wade Preece was a sister of Dora Wade O'Keefe, John's wife.

Wade married Mary Agnes Molumby, daughter of Frank and Ellen Molumby on June 15, 1926 in Waukon at St. Patrick's Church. They then took up residence in Waterloo. Mrs. Preece passed away in 1982.

Dr. Wade Preece practiced medicine and surgery in Waterloo for 51 years until her retired at age 79 in 1976. He was on the Board of St. Francis hospital (now named Covenant Hospital) for most of those years and also was Chief of Staff. He was a member of the Black Hawk County American College of Surgeons (served as President) and the American Medical Society of Black Hawk County, where he served as President. In October, 1940, he was appointed by then Governor George Wilson as head physical for the Waterloo Selective Service Board, member of the Waterloo Benevolent.

And Protective Order of Elks, member of St. Edward's Catholic Church and also a member of the Sunnyside Country Club for over 50 years.

His survivors include his children who are Timothy F. Preece of Danville, California, Helene Preece McCormack of Thousand Oaks, California and Geral Wade Preece of New York City; one brother, Dr. John Preece of Newtown, Pa. Two sisters and one brother preceded him in death.

Wade Preece has eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. One grandchild pre-deceased him.

He lived in Waterloo from 1937 to 1993. He was a champion bridge player, had a keen interest in national politics and international affairs and followed the Chicago baseball Cubs and the University of Iowa football and basketball teams on television and in the press until his death.

Dr. Preece was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Battle Creek, Nebraska on Wednesday, March 10, 1993.

Source: "Scrapbook 1993 - 94 - 95", Pg.18,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA