Robert Foster Weir

ROBERT FOSTER WEIR

Iowa City

Robert Foster Weir, 78, died on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at First United Methodist Church, Iowa City, with the Rev. Dr. Barrie Tritle officiating, where visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 10am. Inurnment will be at Oakland Cemetery.

Robert was born Jan. 15, 1943, in Amarillo, Texas, the son of Samuel "Frank" and Rubye Weir, who died soon after his birth. Robert's father later married Erlene James, who became Mother to "Bobby."

A resident of Iowa City since 1988, Robert grew up in the panhandle of Texas and attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas, where he met his wife Jerry. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Princeton University in Princeton, N.J.

A professor of biomedical ethics until his 2006 retirement, he taught at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine for 18 years, where he led the biomedical ethics program and held the Richard M. Caplan Endowed Chair in Biomedical Ethics and Medical Humanities. Robert was a pioneer in the field of medical ethics and wrote several books related to the topic, including Ethical Issues in Death and Dying and The Stored Tissue Issue. He loved teaching and received numerous teaching awards. Prior to coming to Iowa, Robert taught religious studies at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater (1973-1988) and at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

Robert married Geraldine "Jerry" Bonnell on March 27, 1964, in Dallas, Texas. They celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this year. Robert was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

He was actively involved in the Crisis Center; the First United Methodist Church; Weber Elementary School, where he volunteered as a "Reading Grandpa;" the New Horizons Band, where he played clarinet; and the OakNotes chorus at Oaknoll. He loved ping-pong, basketball, and German chocolate cake and traveling with his wife and granddaughters.

One of Robert's stated wishes was that people feel comfortable wearing bright, happy colors to his service, because although he dearly loved his life, his family, friends, and community, he's headed to a better, joyous place.

Survivors include Robert's wife, Jerry; his daughter, Melinda and partner (Roberto) of Washington, D.C.; his son, Randall and wife (Cristol) of Beaverton, Ore.; and his granddaughters, Brooke and Berkeley, who both live in the Pacific Northwest.

Memorial donations may be directed to CommUnity (formerly The Crisis Center), First United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Association.

A full obituary may be viewed and online condolences may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.