116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Robert Summers
DR. ROBERT SUMMERS
Iowa City
Dr. Robert W. Summers, 77, professor emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at First Mennonite Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service.
Robert W. Summers was born July 28, 1938, in Lansing, Mich., the son of Raymond and Edna (Cook) Summers. Following graduation from high school in St. Johns, Mich., he attended Goshen College for two years and graduated from Michigan State University. He then went on to the University of Iowa College of Medicine where he received his M.D. in 1965. Dr. Summers completed his internship at Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital and subsequently his internal medicine residency and gastro-enterology fellowship at the University of Iowa, where he spent his entire professional career.
His varied interests as a faculty physician included teaching, patient care and research in colon cancer prevention, gastro-intestinal motility and inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Summers has been recognized for his contributions not only within the local medical community, but throughout the state of Iowa and the United States. He established the Southeast Iowa Chapter of the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America, served as president of the American Motility Society, published numerous professional articles, editorials, chapters and books, and lectured extensively throughout the world.
At the University of Iowa he was recipient of the James A. Clifton Professorship in 2003 and the Ernest O. Thielen Clinical Teaching and Service Award in 2004. Other formal recognitions include the AGA Mentors Research Scholar Award and the Masters Award in Gastroenter-ology in 2007. He approached his work with an inquisitive mind, integrity and commitment.
Bob was not only a man of great professional accomplishments, but also one who loved to see the world with his wife, Edith, collecting Nativities on their many travels.
He was an active member of First Mennonite Church for nearly 60 years and lived out his faith through his compassionate, gentle and caring manner. Patients, friends, family, students and colleagues all found Bob to be a devoted caregiver.
He enjoyed music and photography and had a passion for researching family history. But he would like most to be remembered as a husband, dad and grandfather, as he loved his family dearly!
His family includes his wife of 54 years, Edith Marlene (Brenneman) Summers; three daughters and their husbands, Kristine Anne Stalter (Timothy), Rebecca Summers Truszkowski (Joseph) and Rachel Karin Hardy (Jonathan); and six grandchildren, Elspeth Anne Stalter-Clouse (Zachary), Elliot John Stalter, Julia Summers Truszkowski, Anna Summers Truszkowski, Cassidy Karin Hardy and Miles Edward Hardy.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Kathryn Sherer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dr. Summer's memory to the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Southeast Iowa Chapter, or Menn-onite Board of Missions and Charities.
Online condolences and memories may be shared on the funeral home
website at www. gayandciha.com.
Daily Newsletters