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From: "R Bradley Potts" <>
Subject: Robert G Atwood (1937-2006), Yakima, WA
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 23:45:59 -0400


Robert G. Atwood
Yakima Herald Republic <yakimaherald.com>
Published 10 April 2006
Keith & Keith Funeral Home

YAKIMA - Robert G. Atwood, 69, died in the early hours of Friday, April 7th from complications of cancer treatment. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin on January 31, 1937 to Robert B. and Loraine Atwood. He spent his youth in Gays Mills, Wisconsin, hiking and camping in the hills, and canoeing and fishing the Kickapoo River. Through these pursuits, he became an Eagle Scout and obtained the Order of the Arrow. He continued to enjoy the outdoors for the rest of his life.

He met and married Gretchen Doering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Greta worked while he completed medical school there and then they set out on their adventurous life. Bob completed his residency in Seattle and then joined the Indian Health Service attached to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. While there, the family expanded to three with the birth of his son, David, in 1964. His three years there cemented his belief in the importance of preventative medicine and respect for the practices of different cultures.

He went on to the University of Hawaii where he completed his Masters in Public Health. While serving as the Public Health Advisor to the Governor of Guam, daughter, Gina, was born in 1969. Returning to the mainland, the family spent time in Medford, Oregon and Olympia, Washington. In 1974, he and Greta brought the family to Yakima when he became the County's Public Health Officer, a position he held until 2001.

In the years following Greta's death in 1992, Bob was lucky enough to find a second partner in life in Linda Topel. Bob spent his retirement years with Linda, going fly fishing, traveling the countryside, caring for their garden, participating in Master Gardeners, and enjoying their five granddaughters.

Bob is survived by his wife Linda Atwood, his two children, David Atwood (Yakima), Gina Atwood (France), his stepdaughters, Kristina Jones (Yakima) and Karin Von Gohren (Mill Creek) and his sisters, Janette Loersch (Wisconsin), Lynn Gray (South Dakota), Elizabeth Johnson (Illinois).

By those who worked with, played with and loved him, Bob will be remembered for his compassion, teaching, laughter, wit, integrity, respect for all humanity and visionary leadership.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations to be made to the Master Gardener Foundation or the Memorial Hospital Foundation for the Northstar Lodge (cancer treatment center). These may be sent in care of Keith & Keith 902 W. Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98902.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. At the memorial, there will be time for people to share their memories and stories. To share a memory on the internet, please visit www.mem.com.

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