Dr. James Reed
Dr. James (Jim) Edward Reed, MD, age 94, of Fort Dodge, died on Saturday, September 13, at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Tompkins Celebration Center of Friendship Haven. Interment will be at North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 PM on Friday, September 19th, at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Good Samaritan Fund, Friendship Haven.
James (Jim) Edward Reed, the son of Edna and Robert H. Reed of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was born on July 25, 1931. He graduated from Fort Dodge High School before attending State College of Iowa in Cedar Falls. He subsequently transferred to the University of Iowa graduating from medical school there in 1958.
Jim married Ruth Arlene Bowman, on April 5, 1958. Following their marriage, Jim and Ruth spent the next two years at Camp Irwin, CA, where he served as a Base Physician. From 1961 to 1963 he completed a residency program at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, where Ruth also served as a Pediatric Nurse. In 1963, they moved to Fort Dodge where Dr. Reed set up his medical practice in obstetrics and gynecology located in the Carver Building. Several years later, Dr. Reed shared an office building off of Central Avenue with Dr. Tripp at 3 N 17th St in Fort Dodge until he moved his practice to the Physician’s Office Building at TRMC where he practiced to the age of 70, retiring in 2001. During his career, he delivered a record 4,365 babies between Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital and Bethesda General Hospital (which eventually merged to become Trinity Regional Hospital).
Dr. Reed and Ruth loved to travel. They also shared a love of good wine and good food.
For years, the two of them could routinely be found dining out on many a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night at various Fort Dodge restaurants, especially The Cellar. His usual order was a filet (medium), baked potato and a Manhattan (two parts Jim Beam to one part sweet Vermouth with a dash of Angostura Bitters, no cherry juice). His love of the Iowa Hawkeyes was also well known. From his extensive collection of Iowa hats, ties and apparel, you knew where his allegiance lied. He and Ruth were avid Iowa football season tickets holders for many years. It might surprise people to know that he was also a season ticket holder for Iowa State football dating back to when Cyclone (Jack Trice) Stadium was opened in September 1975. When it became too difficult to travel to games, they could, without fail, be found watching their beloved Hawkeyes play football and basketball on TV. While still practicing medicine, it was routine for him to have his nurses put the infants of Iowa State fans in Iowa Hawkeye onesies. Even now, with his passing, you can still hear him saying, “Go Hawks.”
Dr. Reed is survived by his son Jim Reed Jr. (Kari Prescott), daughter Sarah (Reed) Porche, grandson Jordan Martin and brother Pat (Judy) Reed. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years Ruth Reed, granddaughter Emily Porche, brothers Carl Reed, Roland Reed, Wendell Reed and sister Betty (Reed) Manguson.