Robert Wesche

Robert Wesche

Robert Wesche
February 25, 1935 – December 30, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 87

Robert (Bob) Woodford Wesche’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. He was truly an extraordinary man. Bob was born in Tientsin, China to missionary parents, Kenneth (seminary professor) and Agnes (nurse) Wesche on February 25th, 1935.

Bob lived a remarkable life and lived it to the fullest. He lived in China until the age of 15, when the Americans were asked to leave. He left by boat with his mother and brothers (his father would come later.) On the ship, the crew couldn’t decide if Bob should be with the men or would be allowed to stay with the women and children (aka: his mother and younger brothers). It was finally decided (after a bit of moving back and forth for a few nights) that he would be allowed to stay with his mother and brothers.

At age 15 his family moved to Portland, OR where he attended and graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1952. After high school he went on to Seattle Pacific College. After his junior year of college, he was accepted into the University of Oregon for medical school (without graduating from college first) due to his outstanding grades and test scores.

He graduated medical school in 1959 and traveled to Philadelphia where he did a large part of his residency and internship at Philadelphia General Hospital. In that same year, while driving from Philadelphia to Portland with a fellow residency mate, they stopped in Chicago to see a friend of the residency mate. It was during that visit that he met Dora Penwell, who he later married. They were married for 59 years until Dora passed away in 2019.

The final year of residency, he was asked to consider doing 6 months of residency in the Congo. At that time, it was not common to do part of your internship overseas. He went and had a wonderful experience with lots of stories to tell. One of those stories was having all his clothing stolen except the clothing he was wearing. Instead of telling anyone or complaining, he washed his clothing in the sink each night and hung them up to dry and wore them every day. One of the doctors at the hospital noticed he was wearing the same clothing every day and asked him about it. That doctor was appalled that Bob hadn’t said anything. He asked around and found more clothing for him. Bob said they were far nicer clothes than he had ever had!

In 1966 Bob and Dora, along with their daughter Dawn, answered the call to go to the mission field where he became the first surgeon to Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, East Africa. A sign on the road as you enter Tenwek states, “We treat, Jesus heals.” He officially retired in 2005 but returned several times and even desired to return after he got sick. During his years he was honored in several ways, and although he always felt he didn’t want accolades for what he felt God called him to do, he was given the honors anyway.

Bob served as Chief of Staff at Berrien General Hospital in Berrien Springs, MI for several years. He served on the board of Vennard College in Oskaloosa, IA until its closure. The new surgical building at Tenwek Hospital is dedicated in his name. He was awarded the Unsung Heroes Award in Phoenix, AZ in 2016 for his years of service as a missionary doctor. He also had several articles published by him and about him in surgical journals and books.

Those who knew Bob describe him as a kind-hearted man who loved the Lord, loved people, and loved his family. He was a humble man who did not ever feel that anything was beneath him. He would gladly help you clean your toilets just as sure as he would perform lifesaving surgery on you. Even when he was sick, he would ask others, “What can I do for you?” When others asked, “How are you doing?” his answer was always, “I’m still alive and praising the Lord!” He also said, “When I am gone, be sure and let people know that I am still alive and praising the Lord!”

Bob will be laid to rest at University Park Cemetery in Oskaloosa, IA next to his wife of 59 years.

He is survived by his daughter Dawn (Wesche) Manwell; son in law, Jim Manwell; 4 grandsons: Taylor, Christian, Josiah, and Andrew; his brother, Lilburn (& Esther) Wesche; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews whom he loved dearly and prayed for daily.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Dora; his brothers: Daniel, Paul, and David; and his parents, Kenneth and Agnes Wesche.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Wesche please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel

Robert Wesche

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