Dr. Robert James Whitney Jr.

Dr. Robert “Rob” Whitney Jr., 56, a life-time resident and local dentist passed away on Monday, April 25, 2011, in rural Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial for Rob will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake, on Saturday, April 30, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass, and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Devils Lake. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Joseph Catholic Church beginning at 7:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service and Time of Sharing at 8:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Rob will be his sons, Jonathan, Ian, and Timothy, his brothers, Roger and Paul, and his brother-in-law, Richard Meyers. Reading the Scriptures will be Cris Kling and Mark Lange. Gift Bearers will be Rob’s coworkers, Diane Mertens, Brenda Merck, Connie Schirek, Mary Lou Watne, and Renae Luehring. Honorary Bearers will be Mark Lange, Greg Soper, Al McKay, Mark Blanchfield, Tim Reiner, Randy Olson, Guy DeSautel, Byron Lannoye, and Don Daniels. Robert James was born on July 1, 1954, in Crookston, Minnesota, the son of Irene (Chambers) and Robert J. Whitney Sr. He grew up and was educated in Devils Lake, graduating from Devils Lake High School with the class of 1972. He continued his education at Lake Region Junior College, Devils Lake, for two years before attending North Dakota State University and graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology. He studied at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry from which he graduated in 1980. Robert was united in marriage to Connie Meyers on September 27, 1980, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. They established their home in Williston, while Rob worked with Dr. Robert Kemp. A year later, the family returned to Devils Lake and opened Robert J. Whitney Family Dentistry in December of 1981 at its present location. A man of immeasurable kindness, resourcefulness, and humility, Rob was a positive influence in all he involved himself. He took an unspoken, yet ever-present pride in his work as a dentist, rarely missing a day at the office, always ready with a smile. Both his coworkers and patients served as endless sources of interest and enthusiasm. His work gave him a sense of purpose and obligation. He could never wait to catch up on the latest bit of local news and weather with his patients, most of which he would report to his wife and three sons around the dinner table each night. Rob loved the outdoors. He hunted geese and ducks in the fall and fished for northern pike with his son Ian in the spring and summer near Sweetwater Lake. Almost a second vocation, Rob was an accomplished photographer. He specialized in photos of plants and wildlife, taking 1st place in three categories—including overall 1st place—in this year’s North Dakota Game and Fish’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest. Ducks Unlimited will be recognizing his work later this year, publishing a picture of his in their magazine. Published photos and competitions were a mere sidelight, however, as Rob was at his best when taking photos of family and friends, retouching photos on the computer, and sitting in the field or by the slough, waiting patiently for his next shot. Rob’s membership to the Devils Lake Curling Club meant a lot to him. A sport he competed in as a young adult, curling was something he had returned to in the last 5 years of his life, curling weekly in men’s league and helping out the club in any way he could. Along with Mark Blanchfield, Al McKay, Mark Lange, and Tom Holt, Rob was a member of the North Dakota state men’s curling championship team in the senior division four out of the last five years, including their championship this January. But again, Rob cared little for the accolades. Mostly, he cherished being out on the curling ice, on the tennis court, and on the golf course with his sons and his friends. More than his hobbies, Rob was a considerate and honest person. He loved and cared for his family, his friends, his teammates, his coworkers, his patients, his community. If asked, he’d say he lived a modest life; to those who knew him, the size of their loss is anything but. Rob is survived by his wife of 30 years, Connie; his sons, Jonathan Whitney of Ithaca, New York, Ian Whitney and Timothy Whitney both of Devils Lake; parents, Bob and Irene Whitney, Devils Lake and mother-in-law Beverly Meyers also of Devils Lake; brothers Roger Whitney of San Diego, California, and Paul (Amy) Whitney of Seattle, Washington, and sisters Linda Whitney of Valley City, North Dakota, and Sue (Barry) Lovgren of Devils Lake; brother-in-law Richard (Stephanie) Meyers of Idaho Falls, Idaho; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Rob was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Jim Meyers.