Rich and I were much saddened to hear today of the passing of Dick this past fall. We both have fond memories of both Dick and Karen, and they will be missed. We are better for having been given the honor of knowing them.

Rich and Celeste Meader

Dear family.

Dr DeGowin's book on physical diagnosis has served me well for decades.

It was also inscribed by him in 1993.

It has pride of place on my shelf.

sincerely,

Dr Eric Cohen

I was sad to hear about the passing of Dick. He was an outstanding physician in the true sense of the word. He gave outstanding patient care, and he was an excellent teacher. Most of all, Dick was a great human being. I trust that God gave him an easy transition from this life to the next. May God bless the family.

Reginald Cooper M.D.

Dick was a delightful person. He had such a thirst for knowledge and like to find out everything about topics that piqued his interest. He and Karen were such nice family friends. It was always great to see them at Lansing.

Elaine and I were introduced to Dick and Karen by a mutual friend in the middle 70’s because of Dick’s mutual interest in collecting historical documents and associated memorabilia. We later started attending shows that catered to our interests in Chicago, Kansas City and Madison. Dick and I would attend the shows while Elaine and Karen shopped and visited local sites. A close friendship developed among the four of us that lasted for decades. Karen and Elaine often did lunch. In many respects we were quite different. Dick was punctual to the second and there were specific times for activities. Elaine and I were much more laisse faire and often would change plans on a whim. Despite these differences, we were close and enjoyed visits to their cabin on the sides of Mount Hosmer and houseboat in Lansing. Another mutual friend, Homer, said that we were good for each other.

I remember Dick for his generosity and incredible memory. If a name of a doctor or historic person came up in conversation, he could recite the person’s history and notable achievements including dates. He remembered the pedigree of medical colleagues including their mentors and institutions for generations. Dick knew the history of the tugs that pushed barges up and down the Mississippi, viewable from his front window. He did not need a laptop to review a patient’s history or evaluate symptoms. He organized and hosted an Iowa City Lunar Society, which met in his home on the evening of a full moon each month to discuss historic or scientific events. Dick was a unique person.

His love for biographies was never ending and he remembered the details presented in each. As such, he assembled a great biography and autograph collection as well as a subset on the Mississippi River history. He subsequently donated his immense library on the Mississippi River to the Lansing Public Library. He was especially proud of his support of the Driftless Area Museum and Education Center, operated by the Allamakee County Conservation Board, just south of Lansing. It is a beautiful facility. Life is lonely without them.

Holmes A. Semken, December 4, 2021