Robert Wallace Anderson, MD
April 23, 2013
Robert W. Anderson, also known as “Bob”, “Andy” or “Dr. Bob” passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 26, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 27, at 2:30 p.m. at Grand View Lutheran Church, 2930 E. 13th St., Des Moines, IA. Private burial will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery.
Bob was born on June 27, 1928 to Swedish immigrants Fred and Emily Anderson. He was raised in Snooseville on the northeast side of Des Moines and had three sisters and one brother. Bob graduated from East High in 1946. While at East High, Bob met Marjorie, the love of his life. Bob enlisted in the Navy out of high school and served his country as a Navy corpsman for two years before beginning college on his trek to becoming a medical doctor. Bob attended Grand View College for two years and transferred to the University of Iowa to complete his BS degree and begin medical school. He graduated from medical school in 1955, interned at Iowa Methodist Hospital and continued his residency at Blank Children’s Hospital under the direction of Dr. Lee Forest Hill. Dr. Bob continued his post graduate work at the University of Iowa and Mass General in Boston.
This began Bob’s journey of building what was to become one of the largest pediatric and referral practices in the state of Iowa. He was Chief of Pediatrics at Blank Children’s Hospital, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and Broadlawns General Hospital. He stayed at his office until the last sick child was seen and spent countless hours counseling his teenaged patients and their families against alcohol and drug abuse.
Bob donated innumerable hours back to the community. He was the pediatrician in charge of the Booth Salvation Army Hospital for unwed mothers. He served as the team doctor for the East High football team for 37 years. He started two of the first free well baby clinics at the churches, Corinthian Baptist and Grand View Lutheran, with his wife, Marjorie Anderson, RNBS, and the late Dr. George Caudill on a volunteer basis. In addition, Bob, with the help of others, was instrumental in getting the neonatal intensive care nursery started at Blank Children’s Hospital, served for ten years as the chairman of the Sports Doctors Committee for the Iowa High School Athletic Association and countless other activities. Bob was an active member of Grand View Lutheran Church and Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Naples, Florida.
Many activities have taken up Bob’s spare time. Bob has had season tickets to the Iowa Hawkeye football games since 1949. He enjoyed hunting pheasants, fishing for walleyes in the boundary waters, boating and watching sunsets on Bonita Beach. Family was first and foremost. Bob has never forgotten his roots and is proud to say he was from the East side.
Bob has resided at Edgewater in West Des Moines and Bonita Beach, Florida with his wife of 63 years, Marjorie. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; daughters, Marilyn Anderson Reese (Rick), Kathlyn Bailey (Tom); grandchildren, Rich (Kent Simmer), Bobby, and Aubrey Reese, Lee Erin Barker (Derek), Lindsay (Chad Willis), and Joel Gannon (Emma Cropp); and 2 great-grandchildren, Sonja Henderson and Wesley Barker. In addition, Bob is survived by Jean McKinney (John) and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Helen Hunter and Eleanor Hagen; and brother, Walter.
Memorials may be given to Corinthian Free Clinic, 814 School St., Des Moines, IA 50309 or to Grand View Lutheran Church. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Rhonda
04/30/2013
Dear Anderson Family, I was sorry to read about the loss of your dear love one Robert. My sincere condolences to the family during this difficult time. May you all find comfort in knowing Jehovah the God of all comfort can give you the strength to get from one day to the next. "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of all tener mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation ..........."2Corinthians1:3,4
Mary Lou Moore
04/27/2013
Dr. Anderson was my doctor when I was 6 days old in 1958. I understand he was at my side one whole night at Blank Hospital. My parents had great respect for him and what a great Dr. he was for ''saving their little girls life''.Dr. Anderson also credited my parents for being good parents. To Mrs. Anderson and Family,Thank you, for sharing this great man. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Deb Miller
04/27/2013
Dr. Anderson took care of me as a child. I remember the picture in the waiting room in the office on University. I am now a pediatrician and hope I make an impact on my patients as he did on me. With sympathy to the family.
Nancy Bone
04/26/2013
Marge, my heart aches for you. Andy was such a fine man and doctor. Norm and I could not have asked for a finer doctor for our children than Andy - we always knew he was available if there were a crisis. Loved seeing the two of you over the years. He will be missed by many. Please take care of yourself.
Kathy Kenney
04/25/2013
Dr. Anderson was such a wonderful doctor. I loved the way he would use the "natural" way with our kids' problems i.e. diarrhea - give them bananas; constipated - give them prunes; cough - give them honey & lemon. More doctors need to be that way rather than giving pills and other medicines for every little problem. He took great care of our two children, and I do remember him giving our daughter the "don't do drugs and alcohol" lecture. I am sad there are not more doctors like him to take care of my granddaughters now. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He lived a full life dedicating himself to others and he deserves to rest now. God bless him.
Mary Clement
04/25/2013
How sorry I am to learn of Dr. Anderson's death. He was a remarkable man and doctor and a wonderful boss. He cared about his patients and his staff. I was privileged to be his nurse for his final 3 years in practice. There was never a day that he didn't say "thank you" before leaving. I will always remember him with great fondness--a truly dedicated doctor, a wonderful teacher, and a special person.
Sandy Mendenhall
04/25/2013
They don't make them like Dr. Anderson anymore. He was truly a one of a kind doctor. I remember, as a kid, making him play his tie that was the Iowa fight song when he walked into the room and before he left. He also was kind enough to give me a hair dryer when I was a young girl because he got my hair wet when he had to flush my ear out. I didn't even care, but it was sweet that he thought of it. My thoughts and prayers to his family. He was an incredible man!
Carole Rodemyer
04/25/2013
My thoughts and prayers are with your family today. Bob was a wonderful pediatrician and mentor. He is remembered by many many families.
Barry L. Kenney
04/25/2013
My thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Anderson's family. He was an outstanding pediatrician and person and will hold a special place in my mind always. He diagnosed my 4 yr old son Brad of Leukemia and was with him when he passed away at Blank Hospital after fighting his disease for 3 years. Doc truly loved his kids and was a great pediatrician.
Todd Jacobus
04/25/2013
I've known Bob Anderson since i was a little kid. He was a very proud East HS Alum, and passionate about the Hawkeyes. He was my pediatrician, and I saw him every Sunday in church. Reading through his obituary, it is quite apparent to me that he really filled in that dash between 1928-2013 fulfilling his purpose here on Earth with some great enthusiasm. I don't know if there are doctors out there like Dr. Bob anymore... he did much more than just doctor. I remember the clinic he and Dr. Caudill ran a Grand View Lutheran Church as volunteers, and wonder what those people in need would have done without these kind men, and their team. Dr. Bob was truly a model in my eyes of giving back to others. I am a better man today for having known Dr. Bob Anderson, and I'm sure there are many others like me out there. Bob and Marge are a great example for all of us. RIP Dr. Bob.