Iris Kruetzner McFee

Iris Goeschel McFee, age 93, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on April 30, 2021. Iris was born September 7, 1927, in Bismarck, North Dakota. She was the eldest daughter of Elma and Albert Goeschel. She attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse near Flasher, North Dakota and high school in Flasher. The family moved to Valley City, North Dakota where she completed four years of college at Valley City State University. She taught business classes for two years at the high school in Lisbon, North Dakota. Along with three other high school teachers, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and worked for several years as the secretary to an engineer in a government instillation and then for twelve years as the Department Administrator to the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Iris enjoyed the challenges of work in this very large department. On May 13, 1967, she married Dr. Arthur S. McFee, who was a general surgery resident at the University of Minnesota. After he completed his residency and a two-year tour with the Navy in Vietnam, he was recruited to be one of the founding faculty at the newly founded University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. In 1968, Iris and Arthur moved to and made their home in San Antonio, Texas. Iris began working as the Assistant to the Chair and Department Administrator in the Department of Surgery where she remained for twenty-six years until her retirement in 1994. She enjoyed being able to establish the office procedures for the new department and to participate in its growth over the years, in addition to the association of many pleasant faculty and staff. Iris enjoyed cooking and entertaining, especially the surgery residents and their spouses, studying Spanish, traveling and bicycling in Europe.

Iris and Arthur played critical roles in leading fund-raising efforts for the San Antonio Symphony. The McFees have been generous and consistent contributors to the Aust Society and the School of Medicine, establishing the endowed Dr. Arthur S. & Iris McFee Professorship in Surgery and the Dr. and Mrs. McFee Veritas Group. For over five decades of surgery residents, Iris extended her grace, kindness and generosity, serving as the cornerstone in the creation of a family atmosphere in the Department of Surgery.

She was preceded in death by her much-loved husband, Arthur S. McFee MD, PhD and two beloved sisters, Patricia Lundberg and JoAnn Even. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Robert Lundberg, sister-in-law, Betty Gruender, nieces and nephews, Timothy Even, Candice and Kerry Even, Nancy and Peter Fitch, Barbara and Glen Hawthorne, Ve and Michael Lundberg, Heather and Kim Bowman, Diane and Mark Ice and Shane and Chriss Busbee, along with 10 grand nieces and nephews. The Department of Surgery family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kathy Schwesinger who has been a devoted, loving friend to Iris, especially since the death of Dr. McFee. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to UTHSA, Veritas McFee Society or the Aust Society, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

1:00 PM

PORTER LORING CHAPEL