William Henry Barnett M.D.

CORTEZ, Fla. - William H. Barnett, 82, of Cortez, Fla., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 in Bradenton after a very short illness of acute leukemia.
Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Bill received his M.D. Degree from the University Of Iowa College of Medicine in 1954. He did his internship at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, Ill., and a Surgery Residency at The Baylor College of Medicine at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, where he operated with cardiovascular surgeons Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. Denton Cooley, and Dr. E. Stanley Crawford. Bill served two years as a medical officer at Luke Air Force from 1957 to 1959 during the time of the Suez Crisis. He finished his residency training in 1961 and moved his family to Ames, Iowa, where he practiced surgery in Ames at The McFarland Clinic. The next 35 years were spent in general, vascular and thoracic surgery in Ames. He was the first doctor to perform vascular and thoracic surgery at Mary Greeley Hospital. His ability and care touched thousands of loving patients during those years. He also served as a doctor for sports teams at Ames High School and at Iowa State University. Bill remained very active in athletics throughout his life. Bill was also a water color artist over the last 25 years. In 1996 Dr. Barnett retired, and he and his wife, Margaret "Peg" (MacLeod) Barnett from Greene, Iowa, moved from Ames to Anna Maria Island in Florida. The Barnett family has summered in Clear Lake, Iowa, for the past 34 years.
Bill and Peg were married for 57 wonderful years. Their children are Mark Barnett (Robin) from Cedar Rapids; Linda Day (John) from Mission Viejo, Calif.; and William D. Barnett (Bernard Simbari) from Salt Lake City, Utah. They have five grandchildren. Bill has one brother, Dr. Robert Barnett, from Minneapolis, Minn. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Sylvester W. Barnett. M.D., and Francis (Spence) Barnett, and his sister Marian Barnett.
There will be a private family service. Please direct your memorial gifts in Bill's name to Tidewell Hospice of Bradenton, Florida or to your local hospice.