Dr. Robert Christian Andersen

Robert Christian Andersen peacefully passed away in Colorado Springs on Monday, February 3rd, 2025 with his wife DeEtte of 68 years at his side. Born on June 5th, 1934 he spent his entire life bringing health and happiness to the world as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and doctor.

Robert graduated from Madison High School in 1952 and went on to get his undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Nebraska in 1960. He then served as an Army Surgeon in Augsburg, Germany with the 19th Infantry. It was a time of high international tensions as the Soviet Union constructed the Berlin Wall during his tour.

Upon leaving the Army in 1963 he moved to the Midwest and continued his medical education by attending the University of Minnesota to become a general surgeon and later served as an Instructor of Surgery. He and DeEtte put down roots in Plymouth, Minnesota where he practiced as a renal transplant and trauma surgeon at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) for the remainder of his medical career before retiring from medicine in 1998. During the first Gulf War in 1991, Robert was called back to the Army to serve as a Colonel in the Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. In his civilian medical career he was a pioneer in the research and techniques that made kidney transplants possible. He performed over a thousand renal transplant procedures. Additionally, he was instrumental in the development of the Level One Trauma Center concept that has become the ‘gold’ standard for emergency medicine in hospitals across the nation. He also had published over 50 articles in various prominent medical journals. He was a member of the American Board of Surgery, the Transplant Society, the Association of Academic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons.

Robert was an avid athlete that began with the 440-yard dash and being crowned Nebraska State High School Champion. Transitioning to marathons and distance running in his later years he and DeEtte completed over 50 races that included The Army 10 Miler, The Marine Corps, Twin Cities, New York and Big Sur Marathons. At 55, both he and DeEtte completed The Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado Springs highlighted by the 5000 foot elevation ascent. The Minnesota winters gave them ample opportunity to take up cross country skiing which included 35 mile races, often placing high in their age group.

Robert is survived by his wife, DeEtte, his two sons Romney (wife Melissa), Reik (wife Laurie), and his four grandchildren, Ryan, Rhett, Reagan and Layne.

Robert regularly attended Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota and then St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth before moving to Colorado Springs. There will be a memorial service at All Veterans Funeral and Cremation located at 1020 E Fillmore St, Colorado Springs, Colorado at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 20th 2025. He will be interred in the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs following the memorial service.