William Robert Whitmore

1932 - 2023

William Robert Whitmore

February 7, 1932-January 29, 2023

Bill Whitmore was born February 7, 1932 in Coin, Iowa. Son of Wayne L. Whitmore and Faye T. (Cheshire) Whitmore, Bill grew up on a farm and was the youngest of five boys. He graduated from Coin High School in 1949 and attended the University of Iowa. Graduating from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1956, Bill remained a dedicated Hawkeye for his entire life. After graduation, he interned at Meadowbrook Hospital in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. He met the love of his life, Kay Marie Bootjer, when they went on a blind date to an Iowa basketball game. They married on December 22, 1957, and enjoyed watching Iowa basketball for the next 65 years.

Bill was a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force in Iceland and New Jersey from 1957-1959, holding the rank of Captain. Returning to Iowa, he completed residencies in general surgery at the VA Hospital and orthopaedics at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

Bill founded a private orthopaedic practice in Davenport, Iowa in 1963. The practice grew rapidly. It is now known as ORA Orthopedics and stretches across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. He retired in 1998.

Bill was a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, served on the Admissions Committee, and was a board examiner in trauma for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa Medical Society, and the Iowa Orthopaedic Society, for which he served as president in 1982. He also was a member of the International and American Arthroscopic Associations. He belonged to the staff of St. Luke's and Mercy hospitals in Davenport, Iowa, and was a past president of the Mercy Hospital medical staff. Bill belonged to the Rotary and the Quarterback Club for many years and he and Kay were members of the Outing Club in Davenport.

After retirement, Bill became involved with Ponseti International Association, a University of Iowa organization whose mission is teaching the Ponseti Method of clubfoot treatment to health care providers around the world. He served on the Board of Directors and taught the Ponseti Method to doctors in Romania, the Philippines, Mexico, Greece, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

Bill and Kay were active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport for over 50 years. In 2015, they moved to Wind Crest, a retirement community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and joined Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village.

Bill loved being an orthopaedic surgeon, but nothing was more important to him than the time he spent with his family. Bill and Kay's retreat was their cabin on Birch Island Lake in northern Wisconsin. Over the years it became the central gathering spot for their expanding family. Bill and Kay loved hiking in the surrounding pine timber, where they planted 7,000 seedling white pine trees. They gathered at Birch Island with their extended family for a memorable celebration of Bill's 90th birthday in July 2022.

Bill was also an accomplished woodcarver, particularly of animals. He was a traveler, an adventurer, a photographer, and a computer and technology enthusiast. He loved the many dogs in his life, and he enjoyed many friendships throughout his life.

Bill is survived by the people he loved most: his wife Kay Marie; his children Kathryn Faye Whitmore Barten (Tom), Robert William Whitmore (Molly), and Peter James Whitmore (Elizabeth); his grandchildren Martin Philip Nieves (Alison), Monica Faye Hirsch (Cory), William Robert Whitmore (Kristen), Kaeli Marie Gretter (Blair), Grace Elizabeth Dahm (Nick), Kyle Robert Whitmore, Katherine Elise Whitmore, and Graelyn Elizabeth Whitmore; and 9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers: Lloyd, Floyd, Wayne, and Keith, in addition to his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Jim Mathew.

In lieu of flowers please send memorials to: Ponseti International, Association, Center for Advancement, 1 West Park Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52242; St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa 52803; Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 East Hampden Avenue, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 AM, on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Wind Crest Community of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Condolences and memories can be shared online at Bill's Tribute Wall at www.EllisFamilyServices.com.