Dr. Robert Dennis McCartney, 77, St. Thomas, ND passed away July 2, 2024. Bob was born February 11, 1947 in Alliance, NE to Urlin and Loraine (Phillips) McCartney. He married Bonita LaHaise May 6, 1978.
Bob grew up in Bridgeport, NE and graduated from Scotts Bluff High School. He received his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Bob pre-enlisted in the US Army as a 2nd Lt. in 1968. Bob attended medical school at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he also completed his Internal Medicine residency, including a Chief Resident year. He was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1972. He began active duty as a Captain in November 1975 at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. After basic training, he was assigned to the 121 Evacuation Hospital, US Army Hospital-Seoul, 8th Army Medical Command in Seoul, Korea. He served temporary duty at Camp Ames and at the 41st MASH in Pusan, Korea, the last remaining Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. In January 1977 he was transferred to Ft. Carson Army Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO and was promoted to Major.
Bob and Bonnie moved to Denver, CO where he practiced in a clinic setting and as Chief of Geriatrics at Rose Medical Center. He was a board-certified geriatrician, was a leader in the development of national geriatric practice guidelines and was the first in the country to adopt electronic medical records in a nursing home setting. In 2010, after practicing for 37 years in Denver, he became the physician at the Grafton Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, retiring in 2015. Bob was a member of the American Medical Society, Colorado Medical Society, North Dakota Medical Society, and Catholic Medical Association. He was president of the Colorado Society of Internal Medicine and a board member of the American Society of Internal Medicine. He was named the Colorado Internist of the Year in 1994 and 1995 by the Colorado Society of Internal Medicine. He was awarded a Mastership in the American College of Physicians, which he saw as his highest achievement.
Bob was a member of the VFW Post 3828 of Kennedy, MN and the American Legion Post 147 of Park River, ND. He was a member of the 5056 Neche/Cavalier, ND Knights of Columbus. Bob was an active outdoorsman, summiting 49 of the 52 Colorado 14,000-ft peaks. He visited every national and state park in Colorado and enjoyed hunting. He drove his Harley to work every day.
Bob is survived by his wife and children, John (Ingrid Tomac), Ann Marie Paulsen (Micah), Elizabeth Cambre, Suzanne Huberty (Scott) and James, sisters and brothers-in-law Daniel (Carol) LaHaise, Mary (Steve) Rudnik, Thomas (Mary) LaHaise, Patricia (Don) Flood, John (Colleen) LaHaise, Jeanne (David) Droske, Elizabeth LaHaise, and James (Kim) LaHaise, and grandchildren Karlos Tomac McCartney, Harold and William Paulsen, Scarlett and Savannah Cambre, and Sofia and Lincoln Huberty. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Bruce Francis.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be on July 8 at 9:30 am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Crystal, ND. Military Rites will be provided by the Park River American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. Viewing will be at 9:00 am at the church and burial will be after the funeral at St. John's Cemetery in Grafton, ND. A reception will follow at his home. Memorials can be sent to St. Thomas Fire Department and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Bob grew up in Bridgeport, NE and graduated from Scotts Bluff High School. He received his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Bob pre-enlisted in the US Army as a 2nd Lt. in 1968. Bob attended medical school at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he also completed his Internal Medicine residency, including a Chief Resident year. He was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1972. He began active duty as a Captain in November 1975 at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. After basic training, he was assigned to the 121 Evacuation Hospital, US Army Hospital-Seoul, 8th Army Medical Command in Seoul, Korea. He served temporary duty at Camp Ames and at the 41st MASH in Pusan, Korea, the last remaining Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. In January 1977 he was transferred to Ft. Carson Army Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO and was promoted to Major.
Bob and Bonnie moved to Denver, CO where he practiced in a clinic setting and as Chief of Geriatrics at Rose Medical Center. He was a board-certified geriatrician, was a leader in the development of national geriatric practice guidelines and was the first in the country to adopt electronic medical records in a nursing home setting. In 2010, after practicing for 37 years in Denver, he became the physician at the Grafton Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, retiring in 2015. Bob was a member of the American Medical Society, Colorado Medical Society, North Dakota Medical Society, and Catholic Medical Association. He was president of the Colorado Society of Internal Medicine and a board member of the American Society of Internal Medicine. He was named the Colorado Internist of the Year in 1994 and 1995 by the Colorado Society of Internal Medicine. He was awarded a Mastership in the American College of Physicians, which he saw as his highest achievement.
Bob was a member of the VFW Post 3828 of Kennedy, MN and the American Legion Post 147 of Park River, ND. He was a member of the 5056 Neche/Cavalier, ND Knights of Columbus. Bob was an active outdoorsman, summiting 49 of the 52 Colorado 14,000-ft peaks. He visited every national and state park in Colorado and enjoyed hunting. He drove his Harley to work every day.
Bob is survived by his wife and children, John (Ingrid Tomac), Ann Marie Paulsen (Micah), Elizabeth Cambre, Suzanne Huberty (Scott) and James, sisters and brothers-in-law Daniel (Carol) LaHaise, Mary (Steve) Rudnik, Thomas (Mary) LaHaise, Patricia (Don) Flood, John (Colleen) LaHaise, Jeanne (David) Droske, Elizabeth LaHaise, and James (Kim) LaHaise, and grandchildren Karlos Tomac McCartney, Harold and William Paulsen, Scarlett and Savannah Cambre, and Sofia and Lincoln Huberty. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Bruce Francis.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be on July 8 at 9:30 am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Crystal, ND. Military Rites will be provided by the Park River American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. Viewing will be at 9:00 am at the church and burial will be after the funeral at St. John's Cemetery in Grafton, ND. A reception will follow at his home. Memorials can be sent to St. Thomas Fire Department and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.