In Memoriam
Lloyd L. Mrstik, DO
By Steven J. Heithoff, DO, FAOAO
Garden City Hospital Orthopedic Residency, Class of 1985
President, AOAO
It is with great sadness that I report the loss of one of the giants of the Osteopathic Orthopedic profession.
Lloyd L. Mrstik, DO died on April 23, 2017, at the age of 92 in North Muskegon, MI.
Dr. Mrstik, born in Cedar Rapids, IA, began undergraduate at University of Iowa and finished at Wayne State University.
He graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1952, and founded the Orthopedic Surgery program at Garden City Hospital in Garden City, MI in 1968.
When he began the program, Garden City was among only four Osteopathic Orthopedic Surgery programs in SE Michigan. The others were DOH, Botsford and Martin Place.
His first resident to complete training was Dr. Terry Weingarden, followed by Dr. Daniel Morrison, who both joined him in practice until Dr. Mrstik’s retirement in 1987.
Dr. Weingarden relates, “Dr. Mrstik was a great orthopedic surgeon, a great teacher, a great human being and a great life-long friend. His patients and his residents were always a top priority”.
His three daughters, eight grandchildren, & four great grandchildren survive him.
Wedding Picture, GCOH Staff & Residents, Sept, 1984
From Left to Right: Terry Weingarden, Mike Lawley, Steve Heithoff, Lou Mrstik, Gary Stevens, Gary Kresge, Jim Brandt, Mike Lawley, Dan Morrison
All of us who trained at Garden City under Dr. Mrstik will be eternally grateful for his passion and his commitment to the profession and us. And to all the great memories and stories that accompany such a huge personality!
I am proud to be a “Big Lou” disciple and I will miss him greatly.
Thomas M. Kramer, DO
1933-2017
William H. Donahue, DO
1934-2017