George Hegstrom, Jr. Ret. Col.

Bluefield, VA- Colonel George R. Hegstrom, Jr., M.D., born in Sioux City, Iowa on May 15, 1934, was a native of Portland, Oregon. He attended Mt. Angel College in Oregon, receiving a degree in Philosophy. He then attended Portland State University, majoring in pre-medicine and completed medical school in 1963 at the University of Oregon Medical School. After medical school, he served as a General Medical Officer in the U.S Army Medical Corp from 1963-1967 in Germany. Upon completion of his pathology residency in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Hegstrom reentered active duty assigned to the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt Germany from 1972-1977, where he served in a variety of staff and command positions. He completed the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1978. His next assignments were in Hawaii where he served as Division Surgeon for the 25th Infantry Division in Scholfield Barracks, Commander of Scholfied Barracks Health Clinic, and Chief of Emergency Medical Services at Tripler Army Hospital. He excelled and was awarded for his teaching duties at Tripler Army Hospital. He returned to the mainland to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania to serve until 1986 as Commander of Dunham U. S. Army Health Clinic. He then served in a succession of command positions in Camp Zuma, Japan; Noble Army Hospital at Fort McClelland, Alabama; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1994. His military awards included Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. Dr. Hegstrom had a passion for politics; he enjoyed reading, and loved Penn State Football. He also had a lifelong commitment to physical fitness and completed multiple marathon runs. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Maloney Hegstrom of the home; his children, Dr. Michael T. Hegstrom and his wife Stephanie and their daughter Amelia Hegstrom of Bluefield, VA, Stephen Hegstrom and his daughter Harley Lynn Hegstrom of Bluefield, WV and Melissa Ann Faust and her husband Brian and their children Brian George Faust and Lauren Faust of Moses Lake, WA; one brother, Terrence Hegstrom and his wife Joy of Portland, OR. The family will receive friends at Mercer Funeral Home on Friday February 26, 2010 from 6:00 until 7:45 p.m. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:45 p.m. with Father Paul Wharton officiating. Military honors will be rendered by the West Virginia Honor Guard and the Mercer County Veteran's Council. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday February 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bluefield with Father Paul Wharton officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions, if desired may be made to the Beckley Veteran Administration Medical Center, c/o VA Voluntary Services, 200 Veteran's Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801. Those wishing to share memories or condolences messages with the family may do so by visting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Colonel George R. Hegstrom, Jr., M.D.

George Hegstrom, Jr. Ret. Col.

May 15, 1934 - February 23, 2010