Robert "Jim" Hegeman
Robert James “Jim” Hegeman, 76, passed away peacefully August 19, 2023 in the presence of family in Redwood City, CA. Jim chose participation in the Stanford Brain Donation Program and cremation. Ashes are to be distributed at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (https://med.stanford.edu/adrc/gifts.html) or another charitable organization of your choice.
Born August 19, 1947 to Donald Hegeman and Elizabeth Blake Hegeman, Jim grew up in Waukon. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and worked several years for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. He became interested in medicine while sitting in on a course in anatomy, and went on to complete a doctorate of medicine at the University of Michigan. This was followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), where he met his wife of 42 years, Rebecca Ash.
He also completed a law degree at the University of Iowa and used it to teach and consult on medical-legal issues. His diagnostic skills served him well in the emergency room at UIHC where he was the director for many years. Later in his career, he practiced internal medicine at Mercy Services in Williamsburg and finally at University Healthcare in Iowa City.
Jim’s favorite pastimes included attending and being involved in his children’s activities - whether it was coaching the elementary chess club or youth soccer, maintaining the family pond for ice skating, or giving lessons in home and car maintenance. He enjoyed hosting get-togethers with family and friends, working in the yard with the family labrador, Meg, and perusing the University of Iowa Surplus & Artifacts stores.
He was a lifelong learner, was fond of using and sharing his home telescope and microscope, and was able to fix anything and everything. In later years he enjoyed following Hawkeye sports, accompanying friends on local bike trails, taking Meg for walks, and landscaping on the family property.
He is survived by his wife, Becky; his sons, James (Ming), John (Susan) and Daniel; his daughter, Rachel; his sister, Katherine Meyer; his grandchildren, Ellie, Jack, Ben, Bernadette and Velma; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his siblings: Mary Ann Champion, William Hegeman, Jeannie Hegeman, Blake Hegeman and Therese Hegeman.
The family would like to thank the staff of Sunrise/Oakmont Care Facility of Redwood City, CA for the care he received in his last months, and the friends, family and colleagues who have enriched his life throughout the years and supported him during his final journey.
Online condolences may be shared at https://obituaries.neptune-society.com/obituaries/belmont-ca/robert-hege....
