Lee Anderson

LEE ANDERSON

Iowa City

Lee Anderson of Iowa City passed away Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. A gathering for family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the History of Medicine Society at the University of Iowa Foundation, the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, or MS Moments, a Des Moines tax-deductible organization that assists families affected by multiple sclerosis.

Lee was born on March 20, 1947, in Atlantic, Iowa, to Lyle and Winnie (Hildebrand) Anderson. He graduated from Griswold High School in 1965 and continued his education at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, receiving his degree in 1970. He practiced pharmacy for several years in Leesburg, Va., where he married Vicki Bragg and where his son, Cris, was born. In 1978, he returned to the University of Iowa as a graduate student in the history department. After receiving his Ph.D. in American history in 1987, he taught at Nebraska Wesleyan College in Lincoln, Neb., for a year and again returned to the University of Iowa to teach in the history department and to write a history of the internal medicine department of the College of Medicine.

Lee and Kathy Penningroth were married in August 1989, and in 1992, they formed a partnership, A&P Historical Resources, to research and write institutional histories. Over the subsequent years, Lee's acquired and innate writing skills were evident in the publication of a number of books, focused primarily on the health professions, in addition to several journal articles, book reviews and unpublished manuscripts. A sampling of book titles includes, "Iowa Pharmacy 1880-1905, An Experiment in Professionalism;" "Internal Medicine and the Structures of Modern Medical Science, The University of Iowa 1870-1990;" "Transitions Through Innovation, The Iowa Pharmacists Association and Iowa Pharmacy 1945-1977" with Kathy Penningroth; "Complete in All Its Parts, Nursing Education at the University of Iowa 1898-1998" with Kathy Penningroth; "The Spirit of Voluntarism, A Legacy of Commitment and Contribution, The United States Pharmacopeia 1820-1995" with Gregory Hines; "The Rise of a University Teaching Hospital, A Leadership Perspective, The University of Iowa Hospitals," as editorial and writing associate of author Samuel Levey; "Medical Science, Medical Politics and Undergraduate Medical Education, Curriculum Revision at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 1900 to 2006" with Kathy Penningroth; and "Imaging, Science, and Service, University of Iowa" with E.A. Franken Jr. and Kathy Penningroth.

During his professional career, Lee was a member of the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the American Association of the History of Medicine, the Iowa State Historical Society and the National Council on Public History. He was currently an honorary member of the United States Pharmacopeia and of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.

Lee had a sharp intellect, an outstanding memory and a wry wit. In addition to his writing achievements, he was an avid gardener, photography enthusiast, restored 1960s Fords and indulged his love of woodworking with making picture frames, designer boxes, cabinets and easels for family and friends. A dedicated baseball fan he enjoyed watching, the Cardinals in particular, and playing in amateur league and pick up games. University of Iowa Hawkeye sports held his lifelong and staunch support, with football season the highlight of each year.

As "Pops," Lee had special relationships with his grandchildren, working on construction projects, teaching them to drive both large and small tractors, playing catch and canning the special green beans that every one of them liked to the exclusion of all others. A close second to his love for his grandchildren was his love for dogs. Every house needed at least one dog, or likely more, to make it a home.

Lee is survived by his wife, Kathy Penningroth; a son, Cris (Karrie) Anderson of Grimes; four stepdaughters, Ann (Thomas Kiefer) Penningroth of Alexandria, Va., Ellen Penningroth of Minneapolis, Minn., Kathryn Penningroth of Madison, Wis., and Paige Penningroth of Chicago; two sisters, Kae Sothman of Lyman and Jo (Delmar) South of Cumberland; a brother, Barry Anderson of Iowa City; seven grandchildren, Kellen Anderson, Jacob and Nate Petrak, Charlotte, Noah and Zoe Hunsicker and Eli Moore; and four nieces and nephews, Kyle and Tracy Sothman, Rhys South and Renee Dirks.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Barbara Anderson; and a stepdaughter, Cindy Penningroth.

Lee's family very much appreciates the vascular surgery team of Dr. Neelima Katragunta at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the fourth floor intensive care unit for their efforts and care on his behalf.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.