Dr. Dennis J. Walter

Dr. Walter was born May 19, 1927 in Freeman, South Dakota, the son of Johnnie M. and Mary L. (Bowen) Walter. He died January 16, 2015, at Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston surrounded by his wife and sons.

He graduated from Freeman High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Army in 1946. Following basic training, he was assigned to the Army 11th Airborne stationed in northern Japan. He was discharged in 1948.

Dr. Walter received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in 1952 and a Medical Degree from the University of Iowa in 1954. He served an internship at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines 1954-1955.

On August 12, 1953 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Rossman at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota. Of that union five sons were born.

In 1955, he began his solo practice of Family Medicine in the Highland Park area of Des Moines. In 1978, he left his practice to join the faculty of the Family Practice Residency program at Broadlawns Medical Center. While at Broadlawns, he later became Medical Director as well as providing medical care at the Women’s Correctional Center in Mitchellville. He retired from Broadlawns in 1999. Following his retirement, he continued to provide staffing at the Residency program when needed. He also provided medical care as needed at the Primary Health Clinics.

Dr. Walter devoted time to medical organizations as well as to the community. He served as Chief of Staff at Mercy Medical Center in 1968. He was an active member of the Polk County Medical Society, the Iowa Medical Society (Pres 1987-88), the American Medical Society (delegate from Iowa), the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians (Pres 1972-73), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (delegate from Iowa). He served on numerous boards including Dowling Catholic High School. He was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

He was especially fond of dogs and had numerous ones during his life time (special dog “Toby”) and surviving dog “Duke.”

Dr. Walter is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sister-in-law, Jane Kugler (Roger); sons, William (Dianna), Robert, Patrick (Teresa), Michael (Elizabeth), and Dennis II; grandchildren, Amy, Robert (Krystal), and Susan Walter and their mother Nancy Walter, Emily and Elizabeth Walter, Tom, Erin and Eleanor Walter, and Kyle Walter and his mother, Amy Irelan and her children, Tyler, Tanner and Katie, and great-grandson Jackson Walter. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John Jr. (infancy), and brother, Robert L. Walter.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at All Saints Catholic Church, 650 NE 52nd Avenue in Des Moines, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 4-7 p.m. at All Saints. A Rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a prayer service to follow.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following: All Saints Catholic Church, Dowling Catholic High School, Broadlawns Medical Center Foundation, or Bishop Drumm Care Center.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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