Dr. Warren H. DeKraay, M.D. passed away on March 14, 2022, at the age of 91, in his home in Racine, Wisconsin with his wife, Nancy, by his side. He was born on May 10, 1930, in Sioux Center Iowa. He graduated from Sioux Center High school, attended the University of Minnesota followed by medical school at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1955. After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force in Newfoundland, Dr. DeKraay completed his general surgical residency in Iowa City Veterans Hospital and University of Iowa Hospitals.  From 1962 to 1979 Dr. DeKraay practiced general surgery in Ottumwa, Iowa.  From 1979 to 1981 he served a thoracic surgical residency at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.  From 1981 to 2007 Dr. DeKraay maintained a thoracic and vascular surgical practice in Racine and Kenosha Wisconsin. He was a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.  Dr. DeKraay was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Racine. He was active for many years in the Downtown Racine Rotary Club.   Dr. DeKraay was a true humanitarian. His passion was to provide medical care to individuals who did not have access to healthcare. From 1978 until 2008, Dr. DeKraay traveled to over 17 different countries to perform free surgery.  Prior to his trips, he would contact medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals to collect supplies for the countries where he was working. His travels included, Guatemala, Nepal, New Guinea, Malawi, Ethiopia, Peru. the Congo and other countries. He would work in sparse, bleak conditions with little or no electricity, performing surgeries on individuals that were in desperate need of surgical care.  In 2001, while traveling on the Amazon River, Dr. DeKraay encountered a young boy named Gorby, who was obviously suffering from a malfunctioning heart. With help from the International Rotary Foundation, Dr. DeKraay was able to have Gorby and his father travel to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where successful heart surgery was performed. Gorby returned to his home on the Amazon as a healthy child.  Throughout his travels, Dr. DeKraay developed deep friendships and relationships with doctors and medical providers throughout the world. The experiences he had during his travels provided the basis for his memoirs, Volunteer Surgeon , which he published in 2010.  In 1955, Warren met his wife, Nancy, at the University of Iowa. The couple married in 1957 and celebrated their 62 ^nd wedding anniversary in October 2021. They have five children:  Warren Jr., Elizabeth Dunlap (David), Sarah DeKraay (Charles Higley), Christina Zikeli (Dirk), and Carolyn Dickens (Brian); four grandchildren: Stephanie Delgado (Jorge), Matthew Dunlap (Halie), Helena Dickens and Chloe Dickens; and two great grandchildren: Charlotte Delgado and JD Delgado; plus, nieces and nephews.

Warren will be dearly missed by all.

Service Details

In keeping with his wish, a private family service was held. Interment was held in the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Please see the funeral home website for the complete obituary.

Memorial Suggestions

For those wishing memorials can be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave. Racine, WI 53403.