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Obituaries » Dr. Fred C Marsh

Dr. Fred C Marsh

July 5, 1957 - April 12, 2021

Service Date: April 16, 2021

Funeral Home Memorial Services of Iowa

Church Lutheran Church of Hope

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Dr. Fred C. Marsh passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and comfort of his family and friends on April 12, 2021 after a long battle with cancer.

The family invites you to a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Lutheran Church of Hope Ankeny (520 NW 36th St). Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 16, 2021, also at the church.

Fred was born on July 5, 1957 to Frederick Ernest and Betty Jean Marsh in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Early in life Fred developed an enthusiasm for sports, including swimming, football and baseball. He participated in Cub Scouts which would evolve into a life-long love of the great outdoors. Fred was a sharp student from a young age, with a curious intellect. As a matter of fact he claims he might have figured out Newton’s law of physics while taking his nightly bath.

Fred graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1975 and shortly after married his high school sweetheart, Ricki Marsh (Fahl). He graduated with a degree in Zoology from Iowa State University in 1979 and was accepted into medical school at the University of Iowa. After graduating medical school Dr. Marsh completed his residency at Broadlawns Medical Center. During the strenuous years of medical training, Dr. Marsh and Ricki started their family, having three children, Kelsi, Kirby and Korey.

Fred went on to practice family medicine for 34 years, 6 of those years in Council Bluffs, Iowa and the last 28 years in Ankeny, Iowa. Patients would describe Dr. Marsh as a compassionate, knowledgeable human being often going above and beyond the normal standard of care. When most doctors spend ten quick minutes tending to a patient, each appointment for Dr. Marsh was a chance to catch up on life, share in his radiating and often sarcastic sense of humor in addition to providing a comprehensive and thorough medical assessment.  It was in these moments connecting with his patients that Dr. Marsh would often share his pride in the accomplishments of his three children and two grandchildren.

Although his family and professional life left little free time, Dr. Marsh was a man of many passions. Music was a constant source of happiness and comfort throughout his life. He looked forward to annual ski trips to Colorado, summers spent boating on the lake and getting creative in the kitchen. He was infatuated with nature and for years would spend a good portion of every day walking his beloved Weimaraners by the lake and capturing the scenery and wildlife with the lens of his camera. Dr. Marsh spoke fondly of his travels to Belize to scuba dive and to Guatemala to explore the ruins. It was not uncommon for Dr. Marsh to be probing the night sky, locating planets, tracking the space station and searching for a more spiritual meaning. Dr. Marsh believed one of his greatest achievements in life is finding faith in God after decades of spiritual wandering.

Dr. Marsh is survived by his children, Kelsi (Greg) Spurgeon, Kirby Marsh, and Korey (Andrea) Marsh; grandchildren, Olivia and William Spurgeon; and sister, Judith Devereaux. He is preceded in death by parents Dr. Frederick Marsh and Betty Marsh, sister Cheryl Marsh and brother Gary Marsh.

Memorials may be directed to the National Parks Conservation Association at www.npca.org

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