Robert Casey

Dr. Robert Casey

GREAT FALLS —Dr. Robert Casey, beloved and respected obstetrician and gynecologist who helped to bring an entire generation of north central Montanans into this world, left us on March 17, 2015 at the age of 94.

Born on September 4, 1920, in Butte, Montana, the only child to Patrick Casey, who emigrated to the Mining City from County Cork, Ireland and Inez Galligan of Virginia City, Nevada,

Ever proud of his Irish heritage, Dr. Casey made several visits to Ireland with his son RJ Casey and deceased wife Thelma to visit family. He lifted his share of Guinness, kissed the blarney stone, even becoming an Irish citizen, and true to the olde sod, he waited until St. Patrick's Day to pass on to the next world.

Dr. Bob was a 1938 graduate of Butte High School and then went on to college at Gonzaga University, where he served as class president from 1941 to 1942. He graduated from Northwestern Medical School in 1946. Immediately thereafter he fulfilled his World War II military service by serving in the U.S. Army's occupational corps in postwar Japan from 1946 to 1948, as the public health director for the main Japanese island of Honshu.

After his military service, Dr. Casey returned to Butte, where he became reacquainted with a high school friend, Thelma Bartoletti. The couple married in January of 1950. They moved to Conrad where he practiced family medicine for several years with his wife who was also his office nurse. They moved to Washington D.C. where he could attend Georgetown University specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Upon completion, in 1955 they settled in Great Falls, where he established his new practice in obstetrics and gynecology, caring for an entire generation of baby boomers and establishing enduring friendships with many local families. During his nearly 45 years of practice he delivered more than 8,000 babies in the Great Falls area.

Dr. Casey and his wife also traveled the globe during their 63 years of marriage. In 1972, Dr. Casey and his wife spent three months teaching modern techniques to physicians and nurses for CARE/MEDECO in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr. Casey and his wife always said this experience changed their lives. He and his wife visited Rome multiple times having private audiences with popes; which later inspired he and his wife to become a Knight and Dame in the Catholic Order of Malta.

Casey, a handsome, humble, gentle and articulate man, was active well into his 90's. He was an avid hunter, making many trips to Alaska, Canada and elsewhere. Many of his trophies attained Boone & Crockett status, and in his time, Dr. Casey was considered one of the best marksmen around. He last carried a hunting rifle in November of 2014.

He is survived by his best friend and son RJ (Robert Casey, Jr.) of San Diego, CA who made frequent trips to Montana to travel, hunt, and joke around with his dad until the end and a daughter, Terri Casey of Argentina.

Dr. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Inez Casey of Butte and his wife, Thelma Rose Bartoletti Casey in 2013.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 20, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. A funeral liturgy will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with a luncheon reception to follow.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com