Dr. Edward Joseph Pezanoski

Dr. Pezanoski was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 8, 1928, of Sigmund S. Pezanoski and Jane A. (Lewandowski) Pezanoski. He died on July 30, 2023 at the age of 94.

His early childhood was spent in Milwaukee, WI and his hometown Racine, WI. His classical high school education was under the Franciscan Fathers at St. Bonaventure High School in Sturtevant, WI and his premedical training was by the Norbertines at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. He received his B.S. Med. Sc. degree and his M.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Internship was served at Madison General Hospital. His residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in which he remained Board Certified, was begun at Brooke Army Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, TX, and completed at Mercy Hospital and the San Diego County Hospital in San Diego, now UCSD. He enlisted in the US Air Force while in his internship and was stationed in Wisconsin, Texas, and California, serving as Chief of OB-GYN at some of his stations. He resigned his Regular Air Force commission after more than five years of active duty.  He was on the staff of all the major San Diego hospitals and most of the smaller hospitals, serving on many committees. He was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD in the Department of Reproductive Medicine. Highlights in his medical practice were the delivery of triplets (incidence of 1 in 8,000 births) and assisting in the delivery of another set. He was the first to use RhoGAM in San Diego County at Grossmont Hospital.  His memberships included Fellowship in the American College of OB-GYN, San Diego GYN Society, San Diego Medical Society, California Medical Society, Catholic Physicians and Dentists Guild as President. He served terms as Secretary, President, Newsletter Editor and Coordinating Advisor of the Southwest OB-GYN Society.

Dr. Pezanoski initially practiced solo in Spring Valley, El Cajon and San Diego and also with the (Frank) Maguire Medical Clinic, and eighteen happy years with the Parkway Medical Group, serving two terms as President. After retirement from private practice, he was employed in El Centro, CA, was on the teaching staff of the San Diego Naval Medical Center and later was Medical Director at Sycuan Medical Center.

He was a Knight Grand Cross in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

While in medical school, he married Lorraine M. Gerrits of then West De Pere, WI. She attended the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and received her RN from St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay. After she passed away in 1998, he was blessed to meet and marry Joanne (Grassel) Steeno VandeWalle, widow of his pre-med classmate Dr. James VandeWalle, of Green Bay, WI. They resided in La Mesa, CA and Green Bay, WI and enjoyed extensive travel throughout the world together.

He is survived by his wife Joanne, children Edward J. Pezanoski, Jr. (Christine) of Lakeside, CA, Paula Moran (James) of Bonsall, CA, Lorri Allphin (Eric) of West Linn, OR, and Dr. Jonathan Pezanoski (Paula) of Reno, NV, 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death in 1998 by Lorraine, his wife of 45 years, his daughter, Jane A. Duggan-Grasekamp (Wolfgang) of San Diego, CA, two infant sons, Joseph and John Sigmund, brother Richard Pezanoski of Racine, WI, sister Elaine Dretzka of Racine, WI, and an infant brother, Raymond John.

Visitation will be held at Featheringill Mortuary from 3-7pm on August 8th, with a Rosary and vigil at 6pm.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10am on August 9th at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2766 Navajo Rd., El Cajon, CA. Reception immediately following. Internment will be private at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum.