Memorial

Carlton B. Lake, M.D. , 90, died July 28, 2019 at Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy surrounded by his family. Funeral Mass is at 10:30am on Friday, August 2, 2019 at St. Matthew Church officiated by Fr. Don Czapla with burial following at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 4-7pm on Thursday, August 1, 2019 and one hour prior to Mass at St. Matthew Church.  

Carlton was born to Leonilla (Steger) and Al Lake on February 5, 1929 in his family apartment above his father’s hardware store across from the Mississippi River in Guttenberg, Iowa.  He graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Loras College and the University of Iowa College of Medicine. After an internship at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan he served for two years at the U.S. Army Hospital in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Carlton joined Drs. Lehr & Aschoff to form Family Practice Associates in Cedar Rapids where he practiced for forty years. Following his retirement he volunteered at the Community Health Free Clinic for many years.   He was an old-fashioned family physician, who made house calls, delivered babies, assisted in surgeries and taught residents.  He took a very personal interest in all of his patients and missed them when he retired.  He was an active staff member at Mercy and St. Luke’s Hospitals, was board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians, was a member of county and state medical societies and participated in numerous patient care and advisory boards and committees.    

On August 22, 1953, he married Wilma Steffen at Holy Trinity Church in Luxemburg, Iowa.  In addition to his busy family life raising five children, he enjoyed music, the arts, and the outdoors as an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer, sailor, and skier.  He was a diehard fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs, and Green Bay Packers.  During his retirement he felt fortunate to travel and spend winter months in Naples, Florida. 

He is survived by his devoted wife of almost sixty six years, his children Jeffrey and Andrew of Cedar Rapids, IA, Joseph (Leila Stortz) of Minneapolis, MN, Dr. Peter (Dr. Ulrike Kuhnle) of Madison, WI, Dr. MaryBeth (Joe Hasson) of Evanston, IL.  Grandchildren are Michaelen (Jared) Sundstrom and Weston Lake of Minneapolis, MN, Alexandra (Will) Fox of Cincinnati, OH, Steffen (Katherine) Lake of Atlanta, GA, Caroline Lake and Annie and Charlie Hasson of Chicago, IL. 

He is survived by a sister JoAnn Auer and nieces and nephews; Mary (Mike) Tangemann, Diane (Hess), John (Sandy) Auer, Dr. Linda (David) Brown, Grace Heitman, Gloria (Sean) Maxwell and Dr. David (Misty) Auer. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Dr. Dennis (Kay) Steffen.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Christopher, brother-in-law, Dr. George Auer, and niece Lisa (Auer) Hagan. 

The family extends their sincere gratitude to Dr. Mary Anne Nelson for her loving care, the staff of Cottage Grove Place, and Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.  

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Matthew Church, Community Health Free Clinic both in Cedar Rapids, Iowa or a charity of choice.