Dr. Mayhew

Dr. Robert James Mayhew, 97, passed away on November 15, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Services for Robert will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, Minnesota with Father Lauren Germann and Father Joe Korf officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at Sacred Heart Church.

Robert was born on September 30, 1919 to Anthony (Tony) and Ruth (Darrow) Mayhew in Wakefield, Michigan. He grew up on the Minnesota Iron Ore Range and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1937. He worked with his father at the Mesabi Range and enrolled into the University of Minnesota in 1938. Upon his graduation he was called to active duty in the United States Army in 1942. On June 18, 1945 as a Lieutenant he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Silver Star for gallantry in action on the island of Okinawa. Here is a short extract of the official citation:
"By displaying leadership, Lieutenant Mayhew, without regard for his own safety, advanced upon the enemy soldiers who were well protected behind rocks and in caves. Although Lieutenant Mayhew was under constant enemy rifle and grenade fire he cleaned out numerous caves and captured many enemy soldiers. During this action five men of this patrol were flanking the enemy when they were taken under fire crossing an open reef. They were pinned down by intense fire coming from behind rocks located immediately above the troops. Lieutenant Mayhew showed extraordinary heroism during the entire period. When one of his men was hit by enemy fire and dropped in such a position that rescue was only possible by the rescuer exposing himself to heavy fire, Lieutenant Mayhew without regard for his own safety, and although was previously wounded from grenade fragments, rushed forward to rescue the man. Upon reaching the man he found him dead. Lieutenant Mayhew carried the body back from its position to the tractor that was in the water beyond the beach. It was necessary for him to swim part of the distance. Lieutenant Mayhew's gallantry in action and his courageous leadership was an inspiration to all men present at the time."
Upon his release from the Army in 1946 as Captain and Tank Unit Commander, Robert enrolled into the Dental School Program at the University of Minnesota and graduated with honors in 1950. He was then called back to military service for the Korean War and served out of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Robert moved his family to Staples in 1953 where he was a practicing dentist for over 30 years. He was a member of the Lions Club, and served as President of the Staples School Board for 21 years. Robert loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter in "God's Country". One of his favorite places was his cabin on Lake Shamineau where he lived with his family during the summer. In 1984 Robert retired to Peoria, Arizona. "Doc Mayhew" was truly missed in Staples after his retirement. Robert was a wonderful story-teller and had a seemingly endless repertoire of jokes. He was known for his kindness and generosity and could strike up a conversation with anyone, always leaving them smiling.
Preceded in death were his parents Ruth (Darrow) Mayhew and Anthony Mayhew, as well as his brother Francis Mayhew, sister Eileen Mayhew Klauer, wife Doris (Milnor) Mayhew and second wife Betty (Fraser) Mayhew. He leaves behind his six children, Eileen (Will) Moore, Chuck (Mary) Mayhew, Elizabeth Mayhew, Paul (Trish) Mayhew, Chris (Colleen) Mayhew, and Jane Mayhew Barnard, as well as his eleven grandchildren, Gabriel, Elizabeth, April, Brandan, Mikayla, Benjamin, Samuel, Claire, Jacob, Andrew and Francis. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN.