Ian Robert Graham Dowdeswell

Ian Robert Graham Dowdeswell

Doctor, husband, father, grandfather, brother, sportsman and special friend to many peacefully passed away on 19th February 2023.  Ian was born on 9th May 1941 in Nairobi, Kenya to Sheila Marguerite (nee Paterson) and Roland Melville Dowdeswell and is the eldest of three sons.

He began school in England and finished in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) interspersed with schooling in Beirut and Cairo.  He went on to be one of the founding students at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyassaland with the view of completing his medical studies at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London where he met Christine.  Throughout his studies he managed to hitch hike through Europe, probably with his tennis and squash racquets in tow.

He began his squash and tennis careers before he could walk.  He was always happy to put his hand to cricket on his free weekends before moving to Indianapolis.  To his family he would be off having a game of squash after work, to his opponents he was a fierce competitor warming up for the numerous tournaments.

From a very young age Ian decided he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a doctor.  His medical career spanned nearly 50 years across 3 continents.  Caring for patients, people and family was his passion.  Imparting knowledge was his desire where he taught medical students at the University of Rhodesia and Indiana University Medical School.  He thoroughly enjoyed his diverse career culminating in 30 years at the VA Hospital Indianapolis and had great admiration for many veterans that were under his care.

Ian lived a life full of adventure, hard work and fun.  He made lasting friendships wherever we went.  He had many a tale to tell and is sorely missed by many.  Ian is survived by his wife, Christine; brothers, Roger and Colin; children, Karen (Tom), Rosalind (David) and Roland (Vera); and grandchildren, Alexandra, Antonia, Bethany, Ian, Elieah and Tomasz.

A memorial service will be held at 12 PM on Saturday, 25th February 2023 at Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road. Friends are welcome to visit from 11 AM until the time of the service.

To view the livestream of the services, click here .