Dr. Robert W. Jarka MD, age 91 of Grand Rapids, passed away Tuesday, February 24, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jewell Jarka; and sister, Catherine Sutter. He is survived by his sons, Robert M. Jarka, MD of Placerville, CA, Andrew D. Jarka of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; his grandsons, Nicholas and Michael; and his sisters, Rose Van Dussen, and Bernice Jarka. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Marquette University Medical College of Wisconsin. He served his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital and was a member of the staff for over fifty years. He was director of the orthopedic residency program at St. Mary’s from 1975-1980. He is a member of the Kent County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Michigan Orthopedic and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. He was an Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery in the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. He was a WWII Veteran assigned to the medical section of the transportation corps of the US Army associated with the movement of the military to the European Theater. He was one of the first two orthopedic surgeons to perform total hip replacement in the state of Michigan. Robert was a member of St. Robert’s Catholic Church in Ada for almost 50 years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 7 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Robert of Newminster Catholic Church, 6477 Ada Dr., Ada, with Rev. Leonard Sudlik presiding. Interment will be at Graceland Memorial Park and Mausoleum. Visitation is Friday 2-5:00 p.m at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. S.E., Grand Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Foundation, 200 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or to Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook SE Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-5783.
