Remembering Iowans lost in 2010

For 40 years, thousands of babies in Cedar Rapids took their first breaths of life under the guidance of Dr. Dean Bemus, who continued to volunteer at the free health clinic until his death Oct. 8. He was 76.

Dr. Bemus, however, never counted the babies he delivered.

“I wish I knew,” said his son, Scott, who followed in his father's footsteps to become a “baby” doctor. “There were thousands.”

Born in Riceville and reared in Waterloo, Dean Bemus graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1959. After a stint in the Navy and an internship in California, he completed a three-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In 1965, he began a practice in Cedar Rapids that, through the years and through partnerships with other physicians, became OB-GYN Associates. After retiring in 2005, he volunteered at the Community Health Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids.

“Growing up, I thought he had the best job in the world,” said Scott Bemus, 40, now with OB-GYN. “He never complained about being on call. He'd get up in the middle of the night to deliver a baby and tell us about it. I don't remember how old (I was). I always wanted to do this.”

In addition to Scott, his immediate survivors were his wife, Bonnie, and children Lisa Shields, David and Dan all of Cedar Rapids.

Many mothers would also consider their children his survivors.

"He had just started his practice when I started with him and had two of my three children with his guidance,” wrote Robin Galli of Cedar Rapids, among comments left with his online obituary at www.cedarmemorial.com. “He always made you feel special, always with a great smile.”

“This was one of the ‘sweetest' men around,” wrote Elaine Ishman of Marion. “He delivered my son 39 years ago and was my doctor till he retired. Got me through some difficult times.”

“I thank him for being there for us when he was!” wrote Michelle Burhite of Marion. About 17 years ago he was called in at the last minute to deliver her son, who was born with pneumonia and two collapsed lungs. “I owe him so much! My son is such a joy, he is my youngest of four and I couldn't think of my life without him!”

“Dr. Bemus showed more compassion then any doctor we know,” wrote Dave and Bonny Kayser of Walker. “He laughed with us and cried with us.”

“I believe the doctor who delivers a woman's child holds a very special place in her heart,” wrote Judy Schlesselman of Belle Plaine. “Dr. Bemus was witty, spunky and above all a very competent physician. He had a very gentle, warm touch and a ‘fatherly' way of dealing with his patients. I trusted his judgment completely and never felt rushed during my appointments.”

Dr. Bemus often gave his patients affectionate nicknames - “pumpkin” or “sweetheart” - and made them feel relaxed with his compassion, tenderness and even discussions about his own family. He was often just as excited as the new mothers at a delivery.

“A skilled surgeon who gave me my life back,” wrote Corinne Kephart of Hiawatha. “Always upbeat with a smile and hug. He called me ‘dearheart.' But it was he who was the dearheart.”

While Dr. Bemus enjoyed reading, playing bridge and working crossword puzzles in his spare time, he loved to golf. “Dean was passionate about the game and was in continual pursuit of excellence,” his obituary read. “Other than being with family, his only other passion that surpassed golf was delivering babies.”

His passion lives on today.

“I have a lot of his patients now,” said Scott Bemus. “Every day someone comes in and says how my father had helped them.”

Among the notable Iowans and Eastern Iowans who died in 2010:

Ben Larson, 25, Luther College graduate and fourth-year student at Dubuque's Wartburg Seminary, Haiti earthquake victim, Jan. 12

Alvin “Al” Lenway, 91, of Cedar Rapids, veterans advocate and an original Freedom Fest organizer, Jan. 31

Rosemary Willson, 88, of Los Angeles, widow of musician/composer Meredith Willson, Jan. 25

Greg Shanley, 49, host of “Talk of Iowa” for Iowa Public Radio, Jan 26

Frank N. Magid, 78, of Santa Barbara, Calif., pioneer in media research with his Marion company, Feb. 5

Robert Dana, 80, of Coralville, former poet laureate of Iowa and English professor at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, where he taught for 40 years, Feb, 6

John Ruan, 96, Des Moines businessman, banker and endower of the World Food Prize, an award created by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, Feb. 13

Herbert “Pete” Hoover III, 82, in California, the grandson of Herbert Hoover, only U.S. president from Iowa, Feb. 4

Frank Piersol, 98, of Iowa City, former director of Iowa State, University of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Municipal bands, Feb. 19

George Nissan, 96, of San Diego and formerly of Cedar Rapids, inventor and promoter of the trampoline, April 7

John Saddler, 73, of Cedar Rapids, former Cedar Rapids aviation director, motorcycle accident on June 26

Jack Zazza, 89, of Cedar Rapids, co-developer of the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center (formerly Sheraton Inn) in Cedar Rapids, June 29

David Wisniewski, Air Force captain and pilot of a Black Hawk helicopter shot down during a rescue mission in Afghanistan on June 9. Died July 2. (He was the son of Iowa City Regina Activities Director Chet Wisniewski.)

James Wells, 81, former Iowa senator from Cedar Rapids who introduced the state's first no smoking legislation in 1975, July 6

E. F. “Pat” Kane, 83, of Marion, former longtime Linn County Recorder and Democratic Party activist, July 11

Lynn Fraker, 54, of North Liberty, longtime Kirkwood Community College administrator, in an automobile accident in Missouri, July 11

Frank Jaszcz Jr., 65, Cedar Rapids, retired Mount Mercy College associate professor of biology, accident in Yellowstone National Park, July 15

George Patrick, 84, Hiawatha, longtime radio and television broadcaster and famous voice who spent most of his career at KCRG radio and TV, July 16

Paul Conrad, 86, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Cedar Rapids native and political cartoonist who won three Pulitzer Prizes on Sept. 4.

John Alberhasky, 92, of Iowa City, on Oct. 14 and Erma Alberhasky, 88, on Nov. 8, founders in 1948 of John's Grocery in Iowa City.

Richard Lord Acton, 69, a hereditary member of Britain's House of Lords and half-time resident of Cedar Rapids, Oct. 10.

Arlene Boddicker, 81, of Encino, Calif., co-founder (with husband Jerry) of Boddicker School of Music in Cedar Rapids, Oct. 17

Rex Honey, 65, University of Iowa professor and human rights advocate, Oct. 23.

Bob Feller, 92, of Cleveland, Ohio, the Van Meter native who became one of baseball's greatest pitchers during a Hall of Fame career with the Cleveland Indians on Dec. 15.

Wythe W. Willey, 68, Cedar Rapids attorney, agriculture advocate and former chief of staff for Gov. Robert Ray, Dec. 19.