Russell Noyes Jr.
Russell Noyes Jr.
Iowa City
Russell Noyes Jr., 88, loving husband of Martha (Martie) died peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at home.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Iowa City. The family will greet friends after 1 p.m. Burial will be at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City following the service.
Russ was born in Indianapolis, Ind., on Dec. 25, 1934, of Russell and Margaret Greenleaf Noyes. He grew up in Bloomington, Ind., and in 1952, graduated from University High School. Thereafter, he obtained a B.A. degree from DePauw University and an M.D. degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1959. He then completed an internship at the Philadelphia General Hospital and residency training in psychiatry at the University of Iowa in 1963. On Nov. 13, 1960, he married Martha Helen Carl of Friedens, Pa. He served in the U.S. Navy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander while a staff psychiatrist at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Ill.
In 1965, Russ joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. He was promoted to professor in 1978 and remained on the faculty until his retirement in 2002. Thereafter, he worked part-time in the psychiatric clinic. His clinical research centered on depersonalization, panic disorder and hypochondriasis. Study of these related disturbances contributed to numerous publications. His professional activities included participation in local and national organizations. He was active in the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry serving on the council and in various offices. In 1990, he was elected president and led initial efforts to obtain subspecialty recognition for the field of consultation-liaison psychiatry. He received the Paul Huston Award from the Iowa Psychiatric Society and the Thomas Hackett Memorial Award from the Academy for career achievement and the Bruce Greyson Award for research on near-death experiences. In retirement he served on the Senior College Committee, volunteered for Project Green and helped launch his church’s community garden.
Russ was an active and devoted member of Christ the King Lutheran Church. He was a quiet and reflective sort but one who liked to laugh. He worked hard and had many interests among them natural history, banjo playing, gardening and watercolor painting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Margaret Noyes of Bloomington, Ind.; and by his brother, John Greenleaf Noyes of Springfield, Ill.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Helen Noyes. Also surviving are two daughters, Marjorie Noyes of Bloomington, Minn., and Nancy Heifner and her husband, Bruce of Pella, Iowa; one son, James Russell Noyes of New York City and his partner, Dahlya Smolash of Ottawa, Ontario Canada’ as well as three grandchildren, Hannah Grace Aamot, Samantha James Aamot and Brian Robert Heifner.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 325 Morman Trek Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52246; or to the University of Iowa Foundation (for the Iowa Museum of Natural History), P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244.
Online condolences may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.