Obituary
Glenn Edgar Bigsby III, DO FACOFP passed away on September 10, 2025, after a lengthy illness. Dr. Bigsby was a Board Certified fourth generation Osteopathic family practice physician, with added qualifications in advanced life support and geriatrics. He was a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (FACOFP). Glenn was born January 27, 1941, in Coon Rapids, Iowa to Dr. Glenn E. Bigsby, Jr. and Florence E. Steele Bigsby.
He attended Coon Rapids schools from kindergarten through first semester of his junior year of high school. Glenn’s work ethic formed early when he delivered the daily Des Moines Register newspaper to most households in Coon Rapids on his Schwinn Black Phantom bicycle. He was active in Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 12. He was inducted into Order of the Arrow, the honor society of Boy Scouts, and was distinguished with Vigil Honors. Glenn often reminisced about traveling by train to the 1957 Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA. It was a very memorable trip with several sightseeing stops including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
In school Glenn participated in vocal music and played the upright tuba and Sousaphone at Coon Rapids High School where he also lettered in football. The family moved to West Des Moines after first semester of Glenn’s junior year of high school where Glenn enrolled at Valley High School. New to the school, he was a standout offensive guard on the powerhouse Valley HS football team. He lettered in football and graduated in 1959. Although he only attended the school for a year and a half, he made many lifelong friends.
Glenn graduated from Iowa State University in 1963, majoring in zoology with minors in chemistry and physics. He graduated from the Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in 1967. After completing internship training in Tulsa, OK, Dr. Bigsby was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army and was one of the first Osteopaths to serve as a physician in the military. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran, completing the remainder of his military service stateside at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX.
His medical career spanned over 50 years and included private practice in Cleveland, OK and Pagosa Springs, CO and serving as Medical Director for Banker’s Life Insurance Company. During the last 30 years of his career, Dr. Bigsby focused on graduate medical education, serving as Program Director and Director of Medical Education for intern and residency training programs in Colorado Springs, CO, Des Moines, IA and Orlando and Port St. Lucie, FL. He also helped establish an Osteopathic gynecologic oncology fellowship program at Florida Hospital South and the PA training program for Nova Southeastern University-Orlando serving first as Medical Director, then Program Director and Associate Professor. In addition, he reviewed files for Social Security Disability Determination Services for the State of Florida. He resigned his position on the Board of Directors at Orlando Lutheran Academy to fill an emergency faculty position, teaching eight classes of advanced sciences, then going on to his other full-time job reviewing social security disability files.
He worked two and sometimes three jobs for much of his career. Always involved in education and inspiring students, he was elected to the School Board in West Des Moines, served on several school student advisory councils and served as a manager for the Symphonic Orchestra of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. He was known by many titles, his favorites being Honey, Love of My Life, Best. Dad. Ever., Harp Roadie, Grandpa, Great Friend, and most important, Loyal Servant. Glenn was a man of tireless understanding and forgiveness, and unwavering faith.
He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Judy (Al) Oponski and Janet (Fred) Palmer. Dr. Bigsby is survived by his wife Claudia Sue Bigsby, and daughter Catherine “Catie” Conway, son-in-love Walter Conway and grandson Walter James Conway, Jr., all of Orlando, FL. He is also survived by daughters Ginger (Jeremiah) St. Ours of Durango, CO and Geneen Bigsby, DO (Tim Dykstra, DO) of Clarkston, WA and son Glenn (Kelly) Bigsby IV, DO of Castle Rock, CO., grandchildren Glenn V (Connor) Bigsby, Marlee Bigsby, Maia Dykstra, Asher Dykstra, Weston Bigsby, Ben Bigsby and Noa Rose Bigsby, and one great-grandchild Carter Rae Bigsby, nieces, nephews and many cherished friends.
The family wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers at the VA Orlando Medical Center at Lake Nona, particularly at the VA Lake Nona Community Living Center Sunrise Community Hospice. Words cannot express our gratitude for the love, support, care, comfort and dignity shared so generously with Glenn and family.
Glenn’s well lived and loved life will be honored with a Memorial Service on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 1331 S. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32828. Committal Service with Military Honors, Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 11:30 am, Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Highway 1, Mims, FL 32754.
Memorials to the family for distribution to charities close to Glenn’s heart.
We are grateful for the love and support given to our father from his second wife of 28 years and her daughter, Sue and Catie Bigsby respectively. We are thankful to Sue for the care she gave him during these last difficult years of his life.
We are grateful for the love and support given to our father from his second wife of 28 years and her daughter, Sue and Catie Bigsby respectively. We are thankful to Sue for the care she gave him during these last difficult years of his life.
Married in blue ... he'll always be true.
Glenn and Sue 6/27/1998 Omaha, NE
Glenn E. Bigsby III, DO FACOFP
Director of Medical Education
Florida Hospital East Orlando
Glenn E. Bigsby III, DO
Capt. US Army Medical Corps, Vietnam 1968-69
Glenn was one of the first Osteopaths to serve as a physician in the military.