Lenard Luther Politte

Dr. Lenard Luther Politte, 90, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2025, surrounded by loving family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Mary Lu (Wallace) Politte; their four children, Keith Politte, Caryl (Politte) Darkow (Van), Kevin Politte (Maricela), and Craig Politte; four grandchildren Andrew Darkow, Erik Darkow, Courtney (Darkow) Morgan and Blake Darkow; and five great-grandchildren, Cooper, Nell, Grant, Betty and Luke. He is preceded in death by his parents, Preston and Flossie (LaRue) Politte, and his two brothers, Donald and Emmett.

Lenard was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 24, 1934. As a child, he overcame rheumatic fever, which sparked his lifelong fascination with medicine. His journey began humbly, near Bismarck, Missouri, where he attended a one-room schoolhouse and excelled academically, graduating at the top of his high school class.

Lenard earned his associate’s degree from Mineral Area College in 1954 before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis, where he discovered his passion for biology and anatomy earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1956, all while working on the railroad at night. A month later in 1956 he married Mary Lu Wallace in Bismarck, MO. Encouraged by mentors, he attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine, graduating top of his class and received the Missouri State Medical Association Honor Graduate Award upon graduation in 1962.

After completing medical fellowships in pathology, internal medicine, and cardiology, Lenard served as a physician in the U.S. Army in Ft. Lewis, Washington and in Da Nang, Vietnam at the 95th Evacuation Hospital. During his service in Vietnam, he treated soldiers as well as local children with heart defects. He led the effort to transport two children back to the University of Missouri in Columbia for treatment, for which he received a distinguished service award from the Vietnamese military and the Army Commendation Medal.

Upon his return from Vietnam, Lenard established the first private cardiology practice in Columbia. He became a founding member and the first president of Boone Clinic, the first multi-specialty clinic in Columbia. As a fellow of the American College of Physicians, he started the heart program, was chief of staff at Boone Hospital Center and a founding member of the Missouri Cardiovascular Group, the Missouri Heart Institute and Columbia Regional Hospital.

After retiring from private practice in 1999, Lenard’s passion for medicine never waned which led him to help mentor Cardiology Fellows at the University of Missouri Medical School. He continued to do so past his 90th birthday. In 2016, the Mary Lu and Lenard Politte, M.D., Caregiver Education Endowed Scholarship was established to benefit outstanding Boone Medical employees who have demonstrated competence, respect, and compassion.

Lenard served at the University of Missouri (MU) as a national steering committee member of the For All We Call Mizzou campaign, a member of the Mizzou Flagship Council and chair of the Chancellor’s Residence Preservation Committee. Lenard was president of the Medical School Foundation and president of the Medical School Alumni Organization. A distinguished fellow of the Jefferson Club, Lenard also was a member of the McAlester Society, life member of the Mizzou Alumni Association and recipient of the MAA’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor awarded to an MU alumnus, as well as recipient of the University of Missouri Medical Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Lenard served on numerous community boards and committees, and forged many lasting friendships through his civic engagements. Lenard was a trustee of Stephens College and a board member of First National Bank, Boone Hospital Foundation and Missouri Heart Institute Foundation.

Outside the demands of his professional life, Lenard cherished time with his family. He loved to travel and experienced many wonderful trips around the world. Whether driving a family motorhome through the Dakota Badlands or spending time at the Lake, he took each adventure as an opportunity to learn. A favorite destination was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the family gathered repeatedly. An Alaskan cruise with family to celebrate his and Mary Lu’s 50th wedding anniversary also provided deep and unforgettable memories.

A boundless Missouri Tiger supporter, Lenard attended countless Mizzou events, dating back to games held in MU’s Brewer Field House. True Tiger!

Visitation will be Friday, February 28th from 11am-1pm at Memorial Funeral Home located at 1217 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65202. Funeral service will begin at 1pm followed by burial, with Military Honors, in Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Boone Hospital Foundation and Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com