Dr. Herman William Hiesterman, 94, of Quinter, KS died Wednesday, July 20, 2017.
He was born on May 31, 1923, in Palmer, KS, to Herman and Anna (nee Lindhorst) Hiesterman. Seven children were born into this family; Herman was preceded in death by brothers, Emil, Edwin, Lawrence and sisters Hilda, Clara and Dorothy. Attending local schools, he transferred to Concordia College, Seward, NE for his senior year of high school. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army during WWII where he was in the Army Specialized Training Program, then a second lieutenant in the Medical Administrative Corps. After the war, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1948 and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1951.
While attending medical school, he met his future bride, Donna Letha Drees, a church organist at Our Savior’s Lutheran church in Kansas City, KS. They were married on August 20, 1950. Herman spent a year of internship at Kansas City General Hospital, where he worked with Carl C Gunter, MD. Herman and Carl, along with their wives moved to Quinter in July 1952 to begin practice with Dr. Ben Morris. After one year, Herman and Carl went into practice for themselves. In 1958, Herman completed a surgical residency in Lincoln, NE. Herman and Carl remained in practice together until Carl’s retirement in 1984. From 1985, Herman was in practice with Michael Machen, MD and Victor Nemecheck, MD until his retirement from private practice in 1989. He continued to practice in the Indian Health Service on a part time basis for 9 additional years until 1998.
Herman was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oakley, and was also involved in community and school affairs, serving on the Quinter School Board for 16 years. He served as president of the Kansas Medical Society from 1981-1982. For many years, he was on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Medicine as a preceptor. Approximately 170 medical students spent their preceptorship with him and Dr. Gunter. He was a Charter and Certified member of the American Academy of Family Practice and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Societies. In 1984, Herman received Alumnus of the Year Award from Kansas University Medical School and in 1993, from Concordia University in Seward. Hobbies included sports of all types, fishing, hunting, reading, telling jokes and playing his ukulele. An avid gardener, Herman was especially known for growing delicious corn and German Volga garlic. As a frugal farmer at heart, he enjoyed nothing better than figuring out how to fix items using only the parts on hand.
Herman was married to Donna for 50 years, who preceded him in death in 2001. Survivors include his son, Grant W. Hiesterman (and wife, Janet) of Bloomington, MN; daughter, Amy L. Peterson (and husband, David) of Wheaton, IL; four grandchildren, Matthew and Luke (and wife, Rachel Poker) Hiesterman, Brian (and wife, Renee) and Curt Peterson; two great-grandchildren, Kingston and Riley Peterson; and many beloved nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Funeral service for Herman will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 28th in the Brethren Church, Quinter, with family receiving friends at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Rev. Michael Brockman of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oakley, KS will be officiating. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Gove County Healthcare Endowment or Quinter Senior Citizen’s Center. Donations made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
Condolences may be left for the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.