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BORN
1936
DIED
2020
FUNERAL HOME
John Robertson, M.D. Obituary
John was born May 19, 1936, in Chicago, a son of the late John Thomas and Alice (Codd) Robertson.
He was a proud graduate of White Pigeon High School in 1954. He attended Fort Wayne School of Business for one year, then attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Wayne State School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Denver Children's Hospital.
Doc served as Chief of Medicine at Denver Children's Hospital. He was a Captain in the National Guard. He also was a member of the ski patrol in Breckenridge, Colorado. Doc opened his private practice in Sturgis in 1974. He then practiced Emergency Medicine at Sturgis Hospital until 2011, then transitioned into Family Medicine at the Center for Health and Wellness until February 2020. Doc was the President of the St. Joseph County Medical Society and served as the Medical Examiner of St. Joseph County for many years. He was a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church of White Pigeon.
John married Marilyn Kay in 1956, which ended in divorce.
He is survived by his loving wife, Debra (Dillivan) Robertson; his children Lori Blue, Beth (Robert) Ganger, Susan (Dan) Gest, Mark Robertson, Jacqueline (William Murphy) Robertson, Rachel (A.J.) Chang and Renee (James) Watson; his mother-in-law, Janet (Kasdorf) Dillivan; his siblings Margaret Bishop, Betty (Charles) Storey and Thomas (Kim) Robertson; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and countless family friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Steven Robertson; a brother, Richard (Wanda) Robertson; and a sister, Karen (Gordon) Green.
Doc had an infectious zest for life and was drawn to adventure, but his true joy was connecting with others. He was a devoted physician who spent time getting to know each and every patient for which he cared. He was an incredible teacher to his medical colleagues; and he was joyfully committed to introducing new experiences to many of his family members and friends. Doc had an array of passions and interests – including skiing, golfing, traveling, woodworking and, of course, singing a rendition of "Margaritaville" on Saturday nights, which was always worthy of a standing ovation from his friends at Tomahawk Tavern in White Pigeon. His real innate passion, however, was bringing new experiences to his family and friends. One could see his eyes light up as he watched loved ones enjoy an experience or place he also loved. Doc saw the good in everyone and was loved by anyone who met him. The feeling was mutual. Doc was someone you wanted to be around. With his charming personality, colorful jokes and jovial laughter, he made every encounter with him feel special. He was extremely proud of his family and their accomplishments. He will be dearly missed and remembered for all the lives that he touched, for his commitment to his patients, and his love for his family and friends.
The family asks that donations be made to White Pigeon Schools. Visitation will be held 2-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no more than 10 people are allowed in the facility at a time, and masks are required. A private family service will be held Tuesday with a public, community Celebration of Life to be announced at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Robertson, M.D.
Sponsored by Farrand Funeral Home.
Stephen (Steve) Lehman
December 19, 2023
Dr. John was one of the "best" humans to ever walk this globe. In my years as Psychologist Clinical Director at then 900 Myrtle Recovery House- next to the Sturgis Hospital -and with Doc as medical director and Randy Podoll his PA- I cannot tell you how many hundreds of people with addictions were helped. He was amazingly compassionate and caring to everyone who came into his path and he was a true Blessing to humanity.
Hugh McCullough, MD
September 27, 2020
Hi Deb - Sadly, time takes good lives. John was much more than that. He was a great pillar and leader of medicine in Sturgis. I remember when he first came to town. I was somewhat dismayed due to competition and my younger patients left to be with the "new pediatrician". But I really grew to like him and he helped me both formally and informally with difficult cases. He was so easy going. And later after I retired and still went to M & M at the hospital, he would be there and related about the downtrodden cases that seemed to occupy the ER. He was so sensitive to their needs. And then later I visited him at the small place on Chicago Rd where he again served the needs of those other unfortunate people. Years ago, after told me of how sad his marriage had become, he said how happy you made him and how he knew you would continue to do so. And I remember coming over to your house on S Lakeview and he helped me with a wood project in his workshop which had all the right tools.
So I have nice memories of John. To sum it all up: he was a good man and lived a good life. Good luck, Deb to you and your kids.
(As an aside, we have moved to South Carolina ten years ago to be near our daughter, Cathleen. My wife Beverly (Bevie) has dementia now so it is difficult.) Hugh McCullough, MD
Hayley Thomas
September 22, 2020
He delivered me and my kids awesome best doctor ever going to be missed
Phyllis Dudley
August 27, 2020
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of "Doc". I had known "Doc" for over 40 years. Lori, my love and condolences go out to you. I loved "Docs" sense of humor and he helped both my sons. For that I will be forever grateful and thankful to have known such a great Dr. as Dr. Robertson. I looked forward to seeing him in his practice as I was a care giver and took my client to his practice often and he always left us laughing. The world was a better place to have such a wonderful Doctor and Man and friend. He will be so missed by all who knew and loved him❤
Phyllis Dudley.
Linda Cesario Witt
August 26, 2020
He was the Dad of my best friend Beth, he was a great person with wonderful family values. I always liked spending the weekend at there house when I was in grade school. A very humble person he was.
JACK STANNER
August 24, 2020
He was a longtime friend. I, and others, knew him as Jack. We became friends in our late teens. In later life always relived our experiences hitch-hiking to and from business college in Ft.Wayne. I have so many wonderful experiences and memories of Jack. Such a great guy!
Candy & Mark Snyder
August 23, 2020
Our condolences to the family. Dr. Robertson was our Saint! It was 1981 Father Day, and he immediately diagnosed our 5 month old baby with spinal meningitis and saved her life! From then on, whenever I would take her in for an appointment, he would proudly carry our Steffany around show her to his staff, and call her his miracle baby! (As I know he had many)! His love and caring ways will never be forgotten! Rest In Peace Dr. Robertson! With Love, Mark and Candy Snyder.
sandra McNees
August 23, 2020
My sympathy goes out to Dr Robertson Families he was a great
Dr as well as a wonderful person who cared about you.sandy McNees
June Robertson
August 23, 2020
Worked with Doc from the time I started from 1980 til 2007. He was great to work with. He always had my back and I his. What a great guy. Loved him dearly.
Deanne
August 23, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting Doctor Roberts on a number of occasions at Sturgis Health and Awareness. He was everything anyone would want in a compassionate family physician. RIP
Pat Green
August 22, 2020
He saved my sons life in 1978 in a emergency when my son was 3 months old. I will never forget his kindness and compassion in telling me my son had a serious heart condition and probably would not live through the night. His advice on sending him to Detroit Children's Hospital saved him.
Greg Sirna
August 22, 2020
I first meet Doc when I went to the ER where he expertly removed a piece of metal from my eye. We became friends and I meet more of his wonderful family. John was fun to be with, easy to talk to and a good listener. He will be missed, such a good soul. RIP Doc!
Dr Christine Hamilton
August 22, 2020
He was a colleague, a great teacher, and, perhaps most importantly, the best ever Dracula...rising from his coffin on Halloween night to give my children treats. Rest in Peace, John, and Rise in Glory!
Anna Mae Schwartz
August 22, 2020
What a beautiful description of this amazing man! I had the privilege of working ER with him and a very special privilege of learning from him when he and I worked the well baby clinic in Sturgis! He taught me so much and trusted me with what he taught me. My love to Debbie and all his family. He made a mark in this lifetime for sure. Photo as just about a year ago....
Anna Mae Schwartz
La' Shon
August 22, 2020
He was a great doctor. He always made going to see him fun. I remember the looks I would get while sitting in the waiting room. Of course I was almost 20 too. Lol When you find a great doctor you want to keep him forever. When I had to change doctors he was always there to help me out when I needed him. He will surely be missed.
Deb Merrifield
August 22, 2020
I really credit him with saving my son's life. He was such a caring doctor and wasn't afraid to tell you if he didn't know what was going on and send you to a specialist. My son Travis Reeve did pass at age 27 from a heart condition but because of Dr. Robertson we had those 27 years instead of him passing as a baby. This is a picture of Travis at Riley Hospital after his open heart surgery at 11 months. Thank you Dr. Robertson, you will forever be in my heart for what you did for my family.
Linda L Stepien
August 22, 2020
Dr. Robertson was my daughter's first doctor. She was born with multiple heart defects and Dr. Robertson helped us through some very difficult times. When she was first born, he listened to her heart and accurately diagnosed her condition. With all that was wrong with her, that was very impressive. He gave me his home phone and told me to call him regardless of the time of night if I needed his help, which I did a few times. I thought he was an amazing and caring person and a wonderful doctor. In this picture, he has his arm in a cast due to an accident I believe on his tractor at home. The little girl is my daughter, Katrina, at two years old after her open-heart surgery in Detroit Children's Hospital. Rest in Peace Dr. Robertson. You made a tremendous difference in my life and the life of my daughter who has grown up and has four children and two grandchildren.
Marjory Ratkowski
August 22, 2020
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
I will always remember his caring nature as a doctor. Dr. Robertson and Dr. Lewis were my favorites. There aren't any as wonderful as them.
Rest in peace Dr. Robertson.
Lisa Kinsman
August 21, 2020
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
There are no words to describe the wonderful caring person “ Doc” was , the lives he touched and memories made .
Many hearts are heavy hearing the word of his passing , but always remember his smile , laugh , jokes and the big heart he had. God bless your family during this hard time , but Doc ( dad, husband , grandfather ) would like you to remember him for the good times and memories made .
Lisa Kinsman RN
A long time ER friend /Coworker
Deb Gonser Wilson
August 21, 2020
In my memory of John was a great doctor who helped my son with his bronchitis (coughing his little head off) doc prescribed a med that took care of his problem!! Doc said my son's bronicle tubes needed to relax. The medicine did just that. I looked up to him for helping us.
I also enjoyed his visits at the bowling alley when I bowled with his wife Debby my friend. I become friends with the whole family. Enjoyed his girls!! Such nice people.
Hugs to Debby and family. He'll always be with you in heart and memories!
Sandy and Kim Pitts
August 21, 2020
He was a great doctor... He took care of our son, Teddy, many times of all the times that Teddy was put into the hospital... He not only cared for Teddy He also cared for us as his parents ♥
Prayers and hugs to his family ♥
Rebecca Sovine
August 21, 2020
His obituary says it all! He was an awesome man and doctor, whose memory will live on. May God comfort Deb and the rest of the family!! (()HUGS))).
Bill & Becca Sovine
Jan
August 21, 2020
Where do I begin. Doc was an amazing man. I met Doc so many years ago when I started employment at Sturgis Hospital. Always a smile, always a story/joke to share. He found out I scared very easily and it was “game on.” I worked in Medical Records as a medical transcriptionist. My desk positioned me with my back to the back door (which was usually open) with the doctors lounge right across the hall. Floor was carpeted, Doc wore the usual rubber-soled shoes and thus the stage was set for many many good scares. Two in particular come mind. He came up behind me and dropped a ladder on the floor behind me and I totally lost it and came unglued. Another good one; he hid in my boss’s office which was beside my desk, I had come back from break started transcribing and caught a flutter of something out of the corner of my eye. I glanced over and he had made himself up in a ghoulish doctor's coat bloody and made up face. He hit the window screaming and I cleared my desk and pushed my chair back so hard to
run it tipped over. Then there was the time he announced to a full ER that my UA showed a “good case of honeymoon cystitis.”
He was kind, loving, supportive. During 2 of the most traumatic times in my life, he was there. He took control and ran interference protecting me. Another incident, a family member was brought into ER. Trauma victim. In my position as a transcriptionist one of my duties was to get STAT transcriptions out as quickly as possible. I was struggling bad, trying to see through the blur of tears. He came in to check on the report put his arm around me said “go take a break I’ll get someone else to finish it.”
There’s just not enough words nor have they been created to describe this amazing man who touched so many people. Thank you Dr John for the absolute privilege and blessing to be able to have know you, worked alongside you and made so many wonderful memories.
Heavenly Blessings
Jan Strang
BEV Helmers Spires
August 21, 2020
My thoughts and prayers to the entire family! Doc was a very special man
Bev Helmers Spires
Ryan Sanderson
August 21, 2020
Doc will always have a special place in my heart. He saved my life when I was just 2 years old and no other doctors could figure out what was happening. Rest in peace and prayers to your wonderful family.
Brenda Ann (fox) cason
August 21, 2020
Dr Robertson was. A great person when I young he was my family Dr and my family had him. As their Dr as well thoughts and prayers for his family and friends
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