Obituary of Gerald W. Howe

Dr. Gerald W. “Gerry” Howe died in his home on January 14th after a short illness. A gathering for family and friends to remember Gerry’s life will be held from 4 to 6:30p.m., Friday, January 18, 2008, at the University of Iowa Athletic Club. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. He was born April 7, 1921 in Atchison, Kansas to Gordon and Eva Howe. He grew up in western Iowa and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1939. He attended Parson’s College, Fairfield, Iowa on a track scholarship and completed his premedical education as an ROTC cadet at the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Chemistry and minored in Mathematics and Physics. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1947, interned at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California, at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York and established a General Practice in Marengo, Iowa from 1948 to 1952. While in Rochester he met and married Sarah Kenney, who was his “buddy and right hand” until her untimely death in 1974. He was recalled to active duty as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Naval Reserve – stationed in Grosse Ile, Michigan, and was honorably discharged in 1954 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1958 he completed the Orthopedic Residency Program at the University of Iowa, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and joined Dr. Arthur Steindler and Dr. Webster Gelman in Orthopedic practice at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Following Dr. Steindler’s death he and Dr. Gelman established the Steindler Orthopedic Clinic, which is now located at Northgate Drive in Iowa City. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, and served as president of the Iowa County Medical Society, the Johnson County Medical Society, and the Iowa State Orthopedic Society. He also served on the Board of Directors, Iowa Blue Cross-Blue Shield and as Director of the Mercy Hospital Student Nurse Loan Fund. He retired from active practice in 1988. Gerry lived a rich and wonderful life in addition to his professional activities: He enjoyed upland game and waterfowl hunting with his many superbly trained gun dogs, especially his Golden Retriever “Dexter,” a national bench and field trial champion. He was an accomplished pilot, earned seaplane, multi-engine, and glider ratings and flew his Piper Twin Comanche to Alaska, Artic Canada, South America and Europe. He also served as Chairman of the Iowa City Airport Commission. In 1982 he married Bernita Halseth who was his great friend, loving wife and invaluable companion. Together they enjoyed international travel as well as wildlife photography in Africa, the Arctic and America’s national parks. They resided for several years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. In addition to his darling wife Bernita, he is survived by his daughter Martha Howe Crowley, her husband Chris and children Gus and Lurana of Portland, Oregon; son, Michael Howe, his wife Christine and their daughter Sarah of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; son Steve Howe and his wife, Jennifer of Torrey, Utah; step-daughters, Sherrie Foster, her husband, Stephan and their children Chelsea, Beau, Sophie and Callie; and Pam Wilson and her children Kirby, Chas and Casey, all of Iowa City. He is also survived by his sisters Ruth McGilvray and Norma Ditto and his brother Robert Howe. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Jerry’s family and his services.