Aschoff, Carl Richard

Carl Richard Aschoff, 86, slipped away peacefully Saturday, April 2, 2011, from complications of prostate cancer.

A memorial visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories.

Born in Burlington, Iowa, on July 21, 1924, he proudly served four years in the army infantry including time in the Vozh Mountains in Germany. He was awarded the bronze star for evacuating wounded under enemy fire and was honorably discharged as a captain.

By then he was known as “Curly,” and he attended the University of Iowa and graduated from medical school from the University of Nebraska. He thoroughly enjoyed his career, which spanned from his time caring for patients in private practice to the director of Medical Education and Family Practice Residency Program at St. Luke's and Mercy Hospitals to a great adventure as the director of the Family Practice Residency Program for the Ministry of Health in Manama, Bahrain. Upon his return to the states, he was a part-time physician for the Meskwaki Settlement for two years.

On June 6, 1948, he married Jacqueline (Topsy) Carberry. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1952, and have spent 62 wonderful years together, for which they were both truly grateful. Together they spent countless wonderful times fishing, hunting morels, playing bridge and planning and sharing thousands of wonderful home-cooked meals. Curly also loved to hunt and looked forward each year to his time in the duck blind with his dear friends. He loved to travel and his most treasured vacations were snorkeling in the Caribbean with his family and friends.

Curly was proud to be a citizen of Cedar Rapids. He spent many hours serving his community, including acting as president of the Linn County Medical Society, and as a board member of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, United Way, Hawthorne Hills and the Visiting Nurse's Association. He also served on the Mayor's Commission on Low Cost Housing, the Boy Scout Council and the Foster Care Review Board. His last act of giving back was donating his body to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy.

He loved his family, friends and life in that order.

Curly was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; his son, Peter; and daughter-in-law, Patricia.

Left to love and honor his memory are his wife, Topsy; son, Michael Aschoff (Ann); daughter, Jo Dixon (David); daughter, Gretchen Aschoff; and five grandchildren, Dorian Dixon, Jacob Dixon (Kelly), Edward Aschoff, Zachary Aschoff and Katie Aschoff.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the Community Health Free Medical Clinic or the charity of your choice.

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