Beloved family patriarch, dedicated clinician, loyal colleague and trusted friend died peacefully Friday April 24, 2020 at St Mary’s Hospital.
Dr. Beckenbaugh was a world-renowned hand surgeon, international speaker and published scholar whose dedication to the Mayo Clinic value of “The Patient Comes First” touched countless lives during his medical career.
Bob was born in Indianapolis, IN on January 23, 1941. He grew up in Rockford, IL before the family relocated to Racine, WI where he graduated from Horlick High School in 1959 and married his first wife; and mother of his 5 children, Mary Susanna Light.
He graduated from University of Wisconsin Madison Medical School in 1966 and completed his Internship year at Maricopa County Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ during the height of the Vietnam War. He was accepted into the military deferment program to complete his Orthopedic Residency at Mayo Clinic prior to serving as a Major in the US Army and was stationed at Darnell Army Hospital in Fort Hood, TX from 1971-73 where he treated injured soldiers returning from Vietnam. He returned to Mayo Clinic in 1973 to complete a fellowship in hand surgery before becoming a Consultant and Professor in the Department of Orthopedics Surgery until he retired as Professor Emeritus in 2009.
Throughout his career, he was internationally known as an incredible contributor to the field of Hand Surgery for his clinical expertise, extensive research and leadership in Professional organizations and activities.
In addition to his love of medicine, he was a lover of life. He married Dana Gimbert in 1984 and they were the gracious hosts of many celebrations with family and friends.
After retirement, he and Dana spent their winters in Tonto Verde, AZ where they continued to host family and friends in their home, while “Dr B” continued to provide medical guidance to his neighbors.
He was a 50+ year member of the Rochester Golf and Country Club. He loved to golf and play cards with a close group of friends who called him “Bobby”. He was a true Vikings fan, and all around football and golf enthusiast. He was a coinsurer of the perfect donut and the best pizza. He perfected the “Bobby Burger”. He was brilliant, respected, personable, funny and loved. He will be missed.
Bob Beckenbaugh is preceded in death by his father, Don, and mother, Virginia; nephew, Steven Hardman; great-nephew, Chase Quickel and wife, Dana, who passed away shortly after on June 9, 2020. He is survived by his sisters Sue Duesler and Judy Corbett; children, Lynne (Ted) Lillie, Jenifer Nelson, Jeff Beckenbaugh, Mindy (Nick) Goodman, Mark (Kari) Beckenbaugh and their mother, Mary Lillie; grandchildren Kristina (Pat) Blanda and Ted Lillie; Sam and Karlee Nelson; Ben and Amelia Beckenbaugh; Ava Goodman; Amanda, Aaron and Blake Beckenbaugh; step-grandaughters Gabi and Emma Hale; great-grandsons, George, Walter and Harold Blanda; nieces, Kim Quickel and Wendy (Todd) Gilbert and nephew, Robert Duesler.
A celebration of Dr. B’s life be on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home Due to Covid-19, safety guidelines and masks will be required for all visitations and services. The service will be available to view online on Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes Facebook page.
Memorials can be directed to Orthopedic Research at Mayo Clinic.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Beckenbaugh family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com