Bemus, Dr. Dean H.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Dr. Dean H. Bemus, 76, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Daniel Kolander will officiate, with inurnment in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A gathering will held on Monday from 4 until 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Bonnie of Cedar Rapids; children, Lisa (Randy Shields) Bemus, David Bemus, Dan Bemus and Scott (Amy) Bemus, all of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Emily, Alexander and Cooper Shields, Madison, Alyssa, Jacob and Claire Bemus; one sister, Dorothy Lammers of Waterloo; nephew, Mark Lammers, and his daughter, Stephanie; and housekeeper and special friend, Dorothy Topping.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Clara Bemus; and a niece, Carol Lynn.

Dean Harold Bemus was born Aug. 6, 1934, in Riceville, Iowa, the son of Harold Marshall and Clara Mathilda (Ehrenstein) Bemus. Dean was raised in Waterloo, where he graduated from West High School in 1952. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls and graduated from Medical School at the University of Iowa in 1959.

He married Bonnie Culp on June 14, 1958, in Davenport. Dean served as lieutenant commander in the United States Navy at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, Wash., on Whidbey Island from 1963 until 1965. It was during the time on Whidbey Island that he was introduced to the game of golf.

After a one year internship at the San Bernardino County Charity Hospital in San Bernardino, Calif., the family returned to Iowa City, where he completed a three-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

In the summer of 1965, Dr. Bemus began a solo practice in Cedar Rapids. Over the years, through partnerships with other physicians, the practice grew to become today's OB-GYN Associates. After retirement from active practice, Dean volunteered his talents at the Community Health Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids.

He was a member of the Linn County Medical Society, Cedar Rapids Country Club, and First Lutheran Church. Dean enjoyed playing bridge, working crossword puzzles and especially reading books. To say that he ‘played' golf is an understatement. Dean was passionate about the game and was in continual pursuit of excellence. Other than being with family, his only other passion that surpassed golf was delivering babies.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be directed to the Community Health Free Clinic of Cedar Rapids or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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