Robert O. B. Quello M.D.

Robert O. B. Quello, M.D., 95, of Sun City, Arizona, died on Sunday, March 14, 2004 after a short terminal illness."Dr. Bob" was born in Beresford, South Dakota, July 23, 1908, lived in Sioux City, Iowa; Forest City, Iowa; and Fergus Falls, Minnesota; where he graduated from high school in 1926. He then attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1930. Before entering the University of Minnesota Medical School, he spent one year in the graduate school in bacteriology. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1935 and interned at Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following internship he returned to Beresford, South Dakota for a short time before joining Doctors Salt and Ward in Minneapolis, Minnesota.World War II interrupted his medical practice, causing him to enlist in the Minnesota State Guard as a Medical Officer. After a short term of duty in Duluth, Minnesota he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and served as a Medical Officer at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas, and bases in Waco and Pampas, Texas. Upon discharge he returned to Minneapolis where he resumed practice with Doctors Salt and Ward on the staff of Swedish Hospital and later, as a solo physician, served as Chief of Staff at Swedish Hospital in 1955. He also was a member of the staff of Fairview Hospital and of Fairview Southdale Hospital. In 1963 he was joined by Doctor E. Duane Engstrom in practice, and a year later they joined Doctors Paul Linner, Freeman Kovack and Paul Johnson, eventually to form Family Physicians, P.A. which is now a larger group known as the Quello Clinic.Doctor Quello was active in many professional organizations including the Hennepin County Medical Society, Minnesota State Medical Association, and American Medical Association where he served on committees of each of these organizations. He served as a Founding member and President of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, and Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of the American Academy of Family Physicians.He was an organizing member of Woodlake Lutheran Church in Richfield, Minnesota, later a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a charter member of American Lutheran Church of Sun City, Arizona. In each of these organizations he was an active choir member and soloist and often taught Sunday School.Upon retirement Doctor Quello moved to Sun City, Arizona, where he became active in numerous community organizations: an officer of the Scandinavian Club and Torske Klubben, a member of the Sun City Community Fund Board, Sun City Symphony Board, Sun City Kiwanis Club, and Physicians' Club.He was preceded in death by his parents, The Rev. Julius and Marie Quello; and son The Rev. Robert Bjornlie Quello; two sisters: Esther Quello and Ardis Bergfald and a brother: The Rev. Julius Quello. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen Bjornlie Quello; daughter-in-law Jan Bottemiller Quello; grandchildren: Robert E. Quello (Toby) and Kara Quello (Brady Mertz), two great grandchildren: Kaydn and Tova Mertz; brother The Rev. Victor Quello (Sigrid) of Northfield, Minnesota; and numerous nieces and nephews.A memorial service will be held at the American Lutheran Church of Sun City, Arizona on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. A memorial service at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis is being considered for later this year.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to Robert Bjornlie Quello Memorial Scholarship Fund at Pacific Lutheran College, Tacoma, Washington; St. Olaf College of Northfield, Minnesota; American Lutheran Church of Sun City, Arizona; or the Sun Health Hospice of Sun City, Arizona.Visit this person's Guest Book at www.dailynews-sun.com.