Arnold Delbridge Obituary

Arnold E. Delbridge M.D.

May 13, 1943 - July 13, 2025

Arnold E. Delbridge, M.D., a distinguished orthopedic surgeon and respected member of the Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, and Marshalltown, IA, medical communities, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82.

Born and raised on the shortgrass prairies near Howes, South Dakota, Arnold's journey began in a one-room schoolhouse and led to a life defined by decades of rigorous study, military service, distinction in orthopedic medicine, and a devotion to farming and ranching.

Arnold earned his B.A. in Biological Sciences and B.S. in Medicine from the University of South Dakota and received his M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School in 1968 where he also met Camille Puccini, the love of his life and wife of 56 years.

He completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago before being called to active duty in the U.S. Army in 1970. Shortly after deploying to Vietnam, their daughter Kim was born. Arnold served with distinction in Vietnam and later at Irwin Army Hospital in Fort Riley, Kansas, attaining the rank of Major in the Medical Corps.

Following his military service, he returned to Northwestern to complete a residency in orthopedic surgery, during which time their son Eric was born. He launched his first orthopedic practice in Dubuque, Iowa, before settling in Cedar Falls, where he dedicated nearly five decades to serving the communities of Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, and Marshalltown. Arnold was widely respected for his dedication to patient care, surgical precision, and unwavering integrity.

In 1995, Arnold and a group of dedicated specialists transformed healthcare in northeast Iowa by founding Cedar Valley Medical Specialists, P.C. a physician-led organization that continues to lead the way in innovation and collaboration with local hospitals and surgery centers. This year, CVMS proudly celebrates 30 years of service.

Throughout his career, Arnold held numerous leadership roles. He served as Chief of Staff at both Covenant Medical Center and Sartori Memorial Hospital, and as Chief of Surgery at multiple institutions. He was also President of the Board of Directors for Cedar Valley Medical Specialists and its affiliated ADI division.

A board-certified orthopedic surgeon, he held medical licenses in Iowa, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Arnold maintained affiliations with Covenant Medical Center, Allen Hospital, Sartori Memorial Hospital, and UnityPoint Hospital - Marshalltown. He was an active member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa Orthopedic Society, the American Spinal Injury Association, and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians.

In addition to his distinguished medical career, he remained a rancher at heart, deeply devoted to the land, his family, and the values that shaped him. In the 1970s, he and his wife Camille purchased a ranch near his childhood home in South Dakota. Over the next five decades, they steadily expanded their agricultural pursuits in Iowa, eventually establishing Dumont Farms, which spanned land in Marshall, Ringgold, and Decatur Counties in Iowa.

While he carried himself with quiet dedication in both his work and his pastimes, Arnold was anything but reserved when it came to his love for his family. He lit up when sharing stories about his children and grandchildren with anyone who would listen always their biggest supporter, and always ready with a joke to make you laugh before you left.

Arnold is survived by his wife, Camille, of 56 years, his children, Kimberly (Dusten) Gratny and Eric (Charlotte) Delbridge, and his grandchildren: Joshua, Madelyn, Elijah, Roan, Ella, Laird, Cordelia, and Greyson. Brothers Harold (Debbie) Delbridge, Norman (Susan) Delbridge, Paul (Debbie) Delbridge, and sister Sandra Cox, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lloyd Delbridge and Lyle Delbridge, and brother-in-law Gary Cox.

The family warmly invites you to New Hope Church in Adel, IA, for a visitation Sunday, July 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. and a funeral service Monday, July 21, at 11 a.m., followed by burial at The Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter. A meal will follow at New Hope in Adel. In lieu of sending flowers to the family's home or funeral home, floral arrangements may be delivered directly to the church prior to the funeral service and visitation.