Dr. Bernhard G. Wiltfang, 86, of Grinnell, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, due to a farm accident near his home west of Grinnell.
A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, at Grinnell Christian Church with Pastor John Epperson officiating. A reception followed the service at the Elks Lodge in Grinnell. Private family burial will be on the Wiltfang farm west of Grinnell. Memorials may be designated to Poweshiek County 4-H or the Brownell Emergency and Trauma Center at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Memorials may be mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Bernhard Gerald Wiltfang was born the son of Bernhard and Gladys (Primus) Wiltfang on Nov. 15, 1931, in Marshalltown. He was raised on the family farm near Wellsburg and graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1949. He moved to Iowa City in 1959 to pursue a medical degree. After graduating from the University of Iowa, he attended medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, NE, where he earned his doctorate. He served his residency at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
On July 10, 1967, he started a private medical practice in Grinnell, where he served and cared for the community for 36 years; retiring on July 10, 2003. Bernhard was united in marriage to Patricia Gilligan on Nov. 30, 1991, and together they were blessed with three children: Bennett, Maggie, and Anneliese. They raised their family west of Grinnell on the family farm.
Bernhard was well known around the community as "Doc." He dearly loved his family and enjoyed the family get-togethers on the holidays and taking trips to the family home in Florida. His farms were his favorite hobby. He was a great doctor, good husband, and wonderful father and grandfather who will be dearly missed.
Bernhard is survived by his wife of nearly 26 years, Patricia Wiltfang of Grinnell; son, Bennett Wiltfang of Des Moines; three daughters, Maggie Wiltfang of West Des Moines, Anneliese Wiltfang of Des Moines, and Nancy Collins of Little Rock, AR; two stepdaughters, Sabrina (Trent) Edsen of Grinnell and Angelique (Luis) Castanon of Tama; grandchildren, Makayla, Eva, Luis, Jr., Ariana, Cora, Kyla, Alissa, and Christina; and great-grandchildren, Sydney, Charlotte, and Savannah. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Gerald; a brother, Calvin; and a sister, Berniece.
