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Russell Conkling
RUSSELL CONKLING
Cedar Rapids
Russell Warren Conkling, 93, passed away Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids.
He was born Aug. 21, 1921, to Olga Schnabel Conkling and Mark Leroy Conkling in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the youngest of four sons, Frank and Marie Conkling, Norwalk, Iowa, (deceased); Dwight and Harriet Conkling, Norwalk (deceased); and Mark Conkling, Des Moines (deceased).
Russ attended grades K-12 in the Des Moines Public Schools and attended college and pre-medical school at the University of Iowa from 1939 to 1946. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1946 to 1947 at Brooks General Hospital, Sam Houston, Texas, and from 1947 to 1948 at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich. He had post-graduate surgical training at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, Mich., 1948-49; VA Hospital, Des Moines, 1949-50; and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, 1950-52.
Russ' medical practice consisted of: VA Hospital, Iowa City, assistant chief of surgical service, 1952-55; general surgery private practice, Newton, 1956-64; and general surgery private practice partnership with Newell Ingle M.D., Cedar Rapids, 1950-95. He retired from medical practice in January 1995.
Memberships included: diplomat of American Board of Surgery, 1955; Linn County Medical Association; Iowa Medical Association; American Medical Association; Cedar Rapids Country Club; El Kahir Shrine Temple; Royal Order of Jesters; honorary staff membership of Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, and St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids; and Ducks Unlimited.
Russ' special interests included breeding and sales of thoroughbred horses from 1974 to 1999, hunting and fishing.
Russ was preceded in death by his wife, Claris Conkling.
Russ is survived by three sons, William L. Conkling, Palm Springs, Calif., James S. Conkling, Middletown, Del., and Jeffrey R. Conkling, Chanhassen, Minn.; three grand-daughters, Margaret Elizabeth Conkling, Louisville, Ky., Morgan Rae Conkling, Middletown, Del., and Sara James Conkling, Middletown, Del.; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held and announced at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be left online at www.cedar
memorial.com under "Obituaries."
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