Robert E. Wynia, M. D.

Robert E. Wynia, M.D., 87, was taken to be with his heavenly father and the love of his life on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Robert (aka Dr. Bob) was born in Plentywood, MT on April 14, 1932, the youngest of 4 children to Edna Bernice Holt Wynia and Frederick James Wynia. Like their parents before them, his parents were farmers. They sold the farm and bought a Gambles store franchise in Poplar, MT. Bob spent his youth in Poplar, graduating from Poplar High School, attending Eastern Montana College in Billings, and then University of Washington Medical School. While home from college, his father introduced him to Winona Carole Martin, who had recently moved to Poplar with her family from Oklahoma. Dr. Bob’s father later told him, “You should marry that girl!” He took his father’s words to heart. The two fell in love, and were happily married for 62 years. After their wedding on December 29, 1956, the two traveled from Poplar to Seattle so that Bob could finish medical school. Winona worked in admissions at King County Hospital (now Harborview Medical Center) to help pay the bills. They then moved to Flint, Michigan where Bob completed his internship and residency. In 1962, they moved to Great Falls, Montana, where he joined the Northwest Medical Group as a specialist in Internal Medicine. Bob was a gifted physician, who had a talent for diagnostics. He was gregarious and well known in Great Falls for many years, always stopping to talk to friends and colleagues. He was instrumental in establishing Health Savings Accounts in Montana and the Montana 911 System. He was president of the Montana Medical Association, on the board of the Deaconess Hospital, and was part of a team to install pacemakers, to name just a few of his many activities. He was passionate about medicine, an excellent communicator and teacher, and continued to study and be involved in the medical community up until his death. In addition to practicing medicine, Bob was involved in his community. He was a Mason and member of the Great Falls Shrine Bagpipe Band, member and past president of the Optimist Club of Great Falls, member of the First Presbyterian Church Choir, and involved in many other civic and church activities. With other investors, he set up the first cell phone system in Great Falls (Radio Telephone System) and opened an Ethan Allen furniture store. He did not like to sit still and was frequently on the go. There was always something to do, be it a project for the Optimist club or Shriners, or building a deck at his house. Through it all, Bob had time to spend with his family and made sure they were always well cared for. There are many heartwarming memories of summer trips to Swan Lake, family vacations, and reunions. In 2005, Bob was appointed by Governor Brian Schweitzer to head up the Department of Health and Human Services. He closed his medical practice in Great Falls, sold his family's home, and he and Winona moved to Helena, where they remained for several years. As Bob and Winona began to experience health issues that may have forced them to move out of their house, they were blessed that their daughter, Kimberly, was able to come and live with them. After Winona passed away on March 14, 2019, Bob decided it was best to sell the Helena house and move back to Great Falls, where his daughter Cynde lived. The new house was ready by November, and Bob and Kim moved in. He was predeceased by his sweetheart of 62 years, Winona Carole Martin Wynia; his mother and father; brothers, Tom and Chuck; sister, Betty. He leaves behind his 4 daughters, Denise (Richard) Coyle, Kimberly Peachy, Cynthia (Charlie) Sheets, and Samantha (John) Luck; 6 grandchildren, Christina Coyle, Brendan Coyle, Jeremy Coyle, Kirsten (Jeromey) Howard, Emilie Jacobsen (Erik Lenington)and Duncan Jacobsen; and 1 great-granddaughter, Zoe Howard. A memorial service will be planned later in the year when it is once again safe for groups to gather. Please email cyndej123@gmail.com if you would like to be notified. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch or Shriners Hospital for Children.