Robert W. Gillespie

Robert W. Gillespie (Bob), 86, resided in Longmont, Colorado with his wife Patricia. He passed away peacefully at their home on July 25, 2013.Bob was born on December 30, 1926 in Sioux City, Iowa to parents Hamilton Sawyer Gillespie Jr. and Marie McDonald Gillespie. He is predeceased by four of his five siblings: Adele, Hamilton Sawyer III, Mary and Jean. He is survived by sister Jane Palmer of Mobile, Alabama and brother-in-law Louis Burgher M.D. and wife Susan of Omaha, Nebraska.He attended the University of South Dakota School of Medicine where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medicine. Following graduation, he and his wife M. Jeanne Osbey, moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend University of Nebraska School of Medicine. He graduated with a degree of Medical Doctor at the age of 24. Loving the surgery rotation, he picked Wayne County Hospital in Eloise, Michigan for his four-year residency. At the young age of 28, Bob Gillespie embarked on what would become an enormously successful career as a surgeon.Following his residency he joined the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Medical Corps stationed in Ft. Benning Georgia. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to set up his private surgery practice and performed surgery at St. Elizabeth Community Health Center, Bryan Memorial Hospital and Lincoln General Hospital.With a keen interest in trauma and burn care specifically involving children Bob joined the American Burn Association in 1969. As Medical Director, he opened the Burn and Trauma unit in St. Elizabeth's hospital in 1974. This was the first private hospital burn unit between Salt Lake City and Chicago. He and Patricia Burgher Hallberg wed in 1985 and worked together caring for burn patients until they retired in 2002. In 1987 and 1989 respectively, they developed the Advanced Burn Life Support Provider Course and the Pre-Hospital Burn Life Support Course, which were the quintessential burn educational tools for medical personnel. For a dozen years, they taught more than 100 courses nationally and internationally to help improve burn care from onset to release.In 1995, he moved to Blair, Nebraska and developed the Clarkson Burn Center where he served as Medical Director.During the course of his 52 years practicing medicine he received the following distinguished achievement awards and honors:¢ Special Achievement Award, American Burn Association, March, 1990¢ Recipient Safety Excellence Award, Nebraska Safety Council, April, 1985¢ Recipient, Outstanding Surgeon Award by the Eastern States Committees on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, 1982¢ Recipient, 1978 Surgeons Award, Presented by the Joint Action Committee of American Association for Surgery of Trauma, The American College of Surgeons and the National Safety Council¢ Alpha Omega, Alumnus Member, University of Nebraska, 1974¢ Certificate of Merit, U.S. Army, 1957He belonged to numerous local and national organizations in a variety of positions:¢ American Medical Association, 1958¢ Nebraska Medical Association, 1958¢ Lancaster County Medical Society, 1958¢ American College of Surgeons, 1959¢ American Association for Surgery of Trauma, 1963¢ Central Surgical Association, 1963¢ Chairman, Subcommittee on Regional Committees, Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons, 1967-1974¢ American Burn Association, 1969¢ President, Nebraska Chapter, American College of Surgeons, 1972 to 1974¢ Member, Board of Governors, American College of Surgeons, 1973 to 1979¢ Member Board of Governors, American Trauma Society, 1973 to 1979¢ Vice Chairman, House of Delegates, American Trauma Society, 1973¢ Western Surgical Association, 1974¢ Chairman, Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons, 1974 to 1984¢ Chairman, Joint Action Program, National Safety Council, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and American College of Surgeons, 1977 to 1981¢ Treasurer, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, 1975 to 1979¢ Active Member, American Board of Surgery, 1978 to Present¢ Chairman, Commission on Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Association 1981 to 1988¢ North American Burn Society, 1985 to Present¢ Senior Member American Board of Surgery, 1988 to Present¢ President, North American Burn Society, 1991¢ Vice president, American Burn Association, 1993¢ Member, Executive Committee Coalition for American Trauma Care, 1999His academic Appointments included:¢ Instructor in Surgery, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, 1958 to 1968¢ Instructor in Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, 1958 to 1962¢ Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, 1968 to 1994¢ Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, 1994Along with organizing and supervising numerous burn, trauma and emergency programs throughout the country and internationally, Bob published dozens of medical journal articles, videos and conducted numerous scientific experiments to help advance burn care treatment.He is survived by his wife Patricia of Longmont, five sons, Tom and his wife Suzi of Boise, Idaho, Kevin of Lincoln, Nebraska, Greg and his wife Mary Jo of Lincoln, Nebraska, Todd Hallberg and his wife Andrea of Centennial, Colorado and Mark Hallberg and his wife Laurie of Parker, Colorado.He is survived by three daughters, Jeanne and her husband Mike of Woodinville, Washington, Kathy of Denver, Colorado and Peg Hallberg of Golden, Colorado.Bob is survived by 15 grandchildren of whom he was very proud: Megan, Keelan, Jeff, Kevin, Lindsey, Tommy, Kelly, Erin, Anne-Marie, Cara, Daniel, Molly, Tyler, Derian and Allison. He has two great grandchildren, Rory and Avery.He will be known for his compassionate patient care and his love of teaching.Graveside service will be held 1:30pm Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Foothills Gardens of Memory, 14251 N. 107th St., Longmont, CO 80504. Memorial contributions can be made to Parkinson's Association or American Burn Association and sent in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel.