Leo Robertson

Dr. Leo Eugene Robertson was born in Springville, Utah, to Leo Glenisla and Cecil Marjorie Nash Robertson on May 24, 1922.  He served in the Canada Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from January 1942 to April 1944.  He attended University of Utah for both his undergraduate and Medical Doctorate degrees graduating in 1950.  On November 24, 1948, Gene married Barbara Joyce Bird in the Salt Lake City Temple. His medical education continued from 1950 until 1955 with a General Surgery internship and residency in Detroit, Michigan, at the Receiving Hospital followed by Harper Hospital.  During this time, three of their six children were born.

Gene served in the US Navy as a surgeon from 1955 to 1957 aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Yorktown with the rank of Lt. Commander. He was first based in Bremerton, Washington, then in Concord and Hayward California. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a solo general surgeon from 1957 to 1962 in Cody, Wyoming. Thereafter the family, now with five children, moved to Chicago, Illinois, so that he could specialize in Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery of the Hand at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke. In 1965, they moved to Provo, Utah, which would be their final home and where Gene became the first Plastic Surgeon at the then Utah Valley Hospital.  For more than ten years, he was the only plastic surgeon between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, and was a blessing to many with his skills as a surgeon. He retired from his Provo practice in 1983, and then spent the last two years of his career in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia, during which time he and Barbara were able to explore many of Lehi's trails.

Despite a busy schedule, Gene served for five years as the branch president of a married student branch at BYU. Gene and Barbara went on to serve an LDS mission together in Cebu, Philippines. Recently, he lived in Olympia, Washington, with his son Paul and Paul’s family where he worked on compiling his wife's biography. He was a member of Rotary International and the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. During much of his life, he dedicated any spare time he had to researching and documenting the lives of his forbearers. He enjoyed many interests and hobbies including travel, photography, the study of human cancer genetics, art, growing orchids, hiking, and camping with his family.

He passed from this mortal realm on February 1, 2017, but he will continue in his lifelong pursuit of learning and service in our Heavenly Father's Kingdom following his joyous reunion with Barbara, the love of his life, and other family members and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth Childs, his beloved wife, his son Todd Freeman, and his infant daughter Abby Ann.  He is survived by his children, James Eugene (Denna Lyman) Robertson, Deborah (David) Sheets, Paul (Teresa Hatch) Robertson, Lisa Anne (Jim W.) Ashton, and Renae Dahl Robertson (daughter-in-law); by 19 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and by many nieces and nephews all of whom will miss their association with him.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at 11 a.m. in the LDS Chapel on 4056 North Timpview Drive, Provo, Utah. Viewings will be held on Friday, February 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, and on Saturday, February 11th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the LDS Chapel prior to the services. Interment will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah.