Dr. Willis Kie “WK” Dankle

Willis Kie Dankle, (aka WK, Bill, Willie) was born on October 24,1929 in Coburg, Iowa. He was the second of three children born to Alizanna Ione (Philson) and Lynn Dankle. WK grew up in the Depression and shared with us that he didn’t know how financially devastating the times were until he read about it later because their house was filled with the blessings of family love and food from the field. He told us of summers in the 30’s when they made hand cranked ice cream the day that the “iceman cometh.” Our family legend and hero passed away at home with family by his side.

WK was a role model to his children and grandchildren and was tremendously admired for his amazing work ethic. He has left an indelible mark on our lives. A “wise and loyal advisor, a gentleman who enjoyed going to work every day with a passion for helping others” is how his grandson Josh described his grandfather. He lived a phenomenal life in small town America impacting countless lives for 54 years as a family physician.

In 1952 WK asked Marilyn to dance at Danceland in Cedar Rapids, and they were married in 1954. He was blessed to have spent 64 years with the love of his life and raised eight children in Panama, Cresco, and Clear Lake, places that were part of WK’s medical journey.

WK graduated with honors from Belle Plaine High School, where his father Lynn was Superintendent. He graduated from Cornell College with honors, and was elected into Phi Beta Kappa. He was then accepted into medical school at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, graduating in 1955. After completing his post- graduate medical training he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Fort Amador on the Panama Canal. Upon completion of his military service he began private practice in Cresco. He served as the Howard Co. Medical Examiner and was on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center in Decorah. In 1963, WK and Marilyn moved to Clear Lake where he practiced medicine until he retired.

WK served as president of the Mercy Medical Staff and served 19 years on the Iowa Blue Cross Blue Shield Board of Directors. He was team physician for multiple sports at Clear Lake High School, and a member of the Boondocks Medical Society. He taught and mentored countless medical students and residents in the art of family medicine. This included his son, Mark, who after serving in the United States Air Force returned to Clear Lake and had the honor to join his father in medical practice. In 2019, WK received the Iowa Family Practice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Outside of medicine and his family, one of his greatest passions was cars. He had an affinity for Corvettes and many other sports cars. WK was well-known around the professional racing circuits as a track physician at Road America, Indy 500 and Sebring.

Snippets of WK…

- Milked cows by hand before school every morning with his brother Walter in Bennington, NE

“Work experiences” prior to becoming a physician:

       -In high school he was on a crew building the railroad from Belle Plaine to Mason City for 87.5 cents/hour

On the factory line at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids

Spot welder for refrigerators at Amana

Door to door salesman selling fine silk hosiery in college

Foreman for seed production at Funk’s G Hybrid

Tour bus guide in the Black Hills, South Dakota

In 1955, WK interned at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado and was present when President Dwight Eisenhower was hospitalized with a massive heart attack.

Practiced in a generation of physicians who assumed House Calls were the norm, even on a snowmobile in the winter

A LOYAL Hawkeye fan, who drove his family cross-country to multiple bowl games. It was frustrating to watch a game on t.v. with him, as he would listen to the radio which was about 5 seconds ahead and chuckle while he told you what was going to happen next.

He harbored an ardent and erudite fascination with the intricacies of linguistic expression. In 1941, he was the Nebraska State Spelling Bee Champion, he had a fanatic Bookworm streak, and he shared limericks that would make one blush.

Passion for healthy foods - WK maintained a drawer full, at all times, in his medical office of M&M’s which his grandkids ran to when visiting.

Watched Gunsmoke daily for many years. In WK’s words, to quote Festus, “it makes me feel all soulsome”.

WK is survived by his children: Dr.Steve (Sara) Dankle, Dr. Mark (Zoe) Dankle, Dr. Casey (Nancy) Dankle, Julie (Tom) Witt, Dr. Jon (Maureen) Dankle, Ted (Susan) Dankle, Cara (Scott) Hull, Dr. C. Jennifer Dankle (Wes Dixon).

Grandchildren: Joanna Kie Dankle, Lizzy (CJ) Nelson, Katie Dankle, Dr. Geoffrey (Jeanna) Dankle, Mackenzie Kie (Alec) Gillespie, Jesse (Hannah) Dankle, Josh (Karly) Witt, Annaliese Witt, Aleksandra Witt, Eric (Jenna) Dankle, Michelle (John) Boarini, Brian Dankle (medical student), Brianna Kie (Zach) Frey, Ben (Claire) Dankle, Emily Hull, Samuel Kie Hull, Jake Dixon and Reece Dixon.

Great-grandchildren: Owen Dankle, Kaylee Witt, Mason Dankle, Serena Boarini and one more on the way.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn, parents Ione and Lynn Dankle, in-laws Julie (Barron) and Marvin DeWitt, brother Walter Dankle (US Army) and sister Lea Young.

HIS WAS A LIFE WELL LIVED!

Open visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel. A private family service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.