Ben VanDeest

1930 - 2022

Ben Van Deest, 91, of Greeley, passed away on August 23, 2022. Ben was born on November 18, 1930 in Davis, South Dakota. He graduated in a class of two from Davis High School in 1948. After two years of college, he taught middle school in Centerville, South Dakota. He then enlisted in the United States Army to service in the Korean War. He spent two years on a Japanese island before returning to Centerville to teach two more years of middle school. Ben moved to Jamestown, North Dakota to attend Jamestown College (now Jamestown University) to complete his four year undergraduate degree in chemistry. While a student at Jamestown College, he was one of the football coaches when the Jamestown Jimmies won the championship. He also played the lead role in South Pacific. It was at Jamestown college where he met the love of his life, Nannette Canfield, a nursing student. She encouraged him to go after his dream of becoming a doctor. Ben graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas in 1962. He completed his residency, internship, and fellowship in gastroenterology at Parkland Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia. Ben moved to Greeley with his wife and two small children in 1968 to open the Greeley gastroenterology clinic; he was the first gastroenterologist in Greeley. Later, he opened the gastroenterology clinic at Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. After maintaining two practices, he decided to practice gastroenterology full time at Lutheran Hospital. He retired in 2005. Ben enjoyed traveling anywhere with his wife. They loved being together. They both enjoyed music, theatre, art, antiques, and anything western. He also loved working in his yard. He is survived by his children, Bradford Van Deest of Virginia, Nannelle (Bradford) Edgren, grandchildren, Sidne Kammler, Colton Van Deest, Byers Van Deest, Hagan Van Deest, Lucas Van Deest, Tessa Edgren, and Daphne Edgren. Special thanks to the staff at The Lodge at Greeley who shared their love and cared deeply for Ben. A private family service will be held.