Obituary of Gerald R Walters

Gerald R. “Jack” Walters, age 102 lifelong resident of iowa City died Friday, December 21, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Memorial services will be held at 1pm Wednesday, December 26, 2018, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church of Iowa City. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Jack was born October 22, 1916, in Iowa City the son of Luke and Hilda (Zahs) Walters.  He married Beatrice M. Griffith on June 4, 1939, in Iowa City.  In 1936 he graduated from Iowa City City High School. After attending the University of Iowa he worked for the University of Iowa College of Medicine for many years designing and building research equipment.  In 1956 he designed and built the first heart-lung machine used at the University of Iowa Hospital for cardiovascular surgery before heart-lung machines were developed. 

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, member of Chapter 29 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and the Iowa City Noon Optimist Club.  As a member of the Optimist Club he held the office of President of the local chapter, followed by the offices of Lieutenant Governor and Governor at the state levels.  He was also Named Optimist of the Year in 1975. 

After retirement, jack enjoyed woodworking, building many different styles of clocks including grandfathers clocks from walnut wood.  He did extensive traveling, including a trip around the world.

His family includes his daughter, Susan Walters; 2 grandchildren, Christopher Innanen (Jody), and Stephanie Innanen Segall (Dan); and 3 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Bea; daughter and her husband, Donna and Bill Innanen; and his sister and her husband, Louise and Charles Brown.