1933
Walter
2022
Walter Dan Gaisford Md
January 1, 1933 — June 10, 2022
Walter Dan Gaisford, M.D.
January 1, 1933 – June 10, 2022
Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather finished his mortal life and returned to his heavenly home on June 10, 2022, in St. George Utah with family at his side.
Walter was born in Salt Lake City on January 1, 1933, to Walter Logie Gaisford and Danna Eda Eckard and moved to Los Angeles, California 3 weeks later.
In 1954, he met his eternal companion, Marie Ann Ostergaard and was married on June 11, 1958, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Los Angeles California Temple.
Walter graduated from John Marshall high school in Los Angeles, California in 1950. He went on to study at UCLA where he became the PCC first place Champion in gymnastics before graduating in 1954. After UCLA he went on to USC Medical School graduating in 1958. He served his internship in Ann Arbor Michigan at the University Hospital. He also completed his residency in general surgery, vascular surgery, and gastrointestinal research in Ann Arbor in 1964.
Dr. Gaisford was the fifth-generation physician in his family. His great great grandmother was Dr. Ellis Reynolds Shipp, one of the first three woman doctors in Utah.
Dr. Gaisford was a surgeon who took great pride in his profession. After his surgical training he became a member of the Stanford Medical faculty where he served as Chief of General Surgery at the Santa Clara County Hospital in San Jose, California. In 1968 he was recruited by LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to oversee the surgical practice of 14 major hospitals. There he became the first full time Academic Chief of Surgery and Associate Professor of Surgery at The University of Utah.
It was during this time that Dr. Gaisford felt that patient care could be significantly enhanced by the introduction of endoscopic procedures. He spent the next 30 years as a pioneer in developing new surgical techniques in Gastrointestinal Surgery. He felt the need to take these lifesaving procedures to more locations across the western states and to accomplish this he began training as a pilot. He completed his training and was certified as an accelerated commercial pilot on April 11, 1978. His ability to fly himself allowed him to travel with medical equipment to serve patients in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, and California.
Walter Gaisford began his music training at the age of 7. When he was 12, he won a scholarship to study with internationally acclaimed violinist Heimann Weinstein in Los Angeles, California. His love of music and dedication to practicing made him an accomplished violinist. During that period, he became the concert master of the California All Youth Symphony. Walter helped organize several community orchestras including the Repertory Orchestra (now the Salt Lake Symphony) and the Southwest Symphony in St. George, Utah and was the concert master of both.
Walter was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings including Bishop of the Ann Arbor Michigan Ward, High Councils and many other ward and stake positions. Walter and Marie served a full-time mission as medical advisor to the North America West Area serving missionaries in all of the 19 California Missions and the Hawaiian Islands. Walter had a fervent testimony of Jesus Christ and testified of the plan of salvation extensively. His love of his family was evident by the life he lived and the example he set. He was devoted to his eternal companion Marie and their six children.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Don, Jerry, Judy, and Jim; his oldest son Walter Brigham; grandson Joshua and granddaughter Rose. He is survived by his wife and eternal companion Marie; his children DeAnn Allred, Dileide Gaisford, Daniel, Calvin (Margo), Julie (Michael) Keyes, Gershon (Kristy). He is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care givers who were so kind and caring in our father’s final days, Dr. Michael Codiga, Canyon Hospice Care and Seasons Rehabilitation.
Funeral Services will be held at the Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George Utah on June 22nd 11:00 a.m. Masks are required. There will be no public viewing. Services available via webcast on spilsburymortuary.com.
Family and friends who are unable to attend are invited to view the funeral service online by clicking on the link below.
Video on Demand
January 1, 1933 – June 10, 2022
Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather finished his mortal life and returned to his heavenly home on June 10, 2022, in St. George Utah with family at his side.
Walter was born in Salt Lake City on January 1, 1933, to Walter Logie Gaisford and Danna Eda Eckard and moved to Los Angeles, California 3 weeks later.
In 1954, he met his eternal companion, Marie Ann Ostergaard and was married on June 11, 1958, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Los Angeles California Temple.
Walter graduated from John Marshall high school in Los Angeles, California in 1950. He went on to study at UCLA where he became the PCC first place Champion in gymnastics before graduating in 1954. After UCLA he went on to USC Medical School graduating in 1958. He served his internship in Ann Arbor Michigan at the University Hospital. He also completed his residency in general surgery, vascular surgery, and gastrointestinal research in Ann Arbor in 1964.
Dr. Gaisford was the fifth-generation physician in his family. His great great grandmother was Dr. Ellis Reynolds Shipp, one of the first three woman doctors in Utah.
Dr. Gaisford was a surgeon who took great pride in his profession. After his surgical training he became a member of the Stanford Medical faculty where he served as Chief of General Surgery at the Santa Clara County Hospital in San Jose, California. In 1968 he was recruited by LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to oversee the surgical practice of 14 major hospitals. There he became the first full time Academic Chief of Surgery and Associate Professor of Surgery at The University of Utah.
It was during this time that Dr. Gaisford felt that patient care could be significantly enhanced by the introduction of endoscopic procedures. He spent the next 30 years as a pioneer in developing new surgical techniques in Gastrointestinal Surgery. He felt the need to take these lifesaving procedures to more locations across the western states and to accomplish this he began training as a pilot. He completed his training and was certified as an accelerated commercial pilot on April 11, 1978. His ability to fly himself allowed him to travel with medical equipment to serve patients in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, and California.
Walter Gaisford began his music training at the age of 7. When he was 12, he won a scholarship to study with internationally acclaimed violinist Heimann Weinstein in Los Angeles, California. His love of music and dedication to practicing made him an accomplished violinist. During that period, he became the concert master of the California All Youth Symphony. Walter helped organize several community orchestras including the Repertory Orchestra (now the Salt Lake Symphony) and the Southwest Symphony in St. George, Utah and was the concert master of both.
Walter was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings including Bishop of the Ann Arbor Michigan Ward, High Councils and many other ward and stake positions. Walter and Marie served a full-time mission as medical advisor to the North America West Area serving missionaries in all of the 19 California Missions and the Hawaiian Islands. Walter had a fervent testimony of Jesus Christ and testified of the plan of salvation extensively. His love of his family was evident by the life he lived and the example he set. He was devoted to his eternal companion Marie and their six children.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Don, Jerry, Judy, and Jim; his oldest son Walter Brigham; grandson Joshua and granddaughter Rose. He is survived by his wife and eternal companion Marie; his children DeAnn Allred, Dileide Gaisford, Daniel, Calvin (Margo), Julie (Michael) Keyes, Gershon (Kristy). He is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care givers who were so kind and caring in our father’s final days, Dr. Michael Codiga, Canyon Hospice Care and Seasons Rehabilitation.
Funeral Services will be held at the Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George Utah on June 22nd 11:00 a.m. Masks are required. There will be no public viewing. Services available via webcast on spilsburymortuary.com.
Family and friends who are unable to attend are invited to view the funeral service online by clicking on the link below.
Video on Demand
Graveside Services will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on June 24th 12:00 noon.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Walter’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter Dan Gaisford Md, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Funeral Service
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
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