Robert Newton Schwendimann, M.D.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Robert N. Schwendimann was born on July 20,1944 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Reverend Fred W. Schwendimann and wife Beth Wood.  He passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 3, 2024 following complications from congestive heart failure. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Fred Schwendimann.

Bob was Valedictorian at Winnsboro High School.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1966.   While there he sang in the choir, was active in fraternity life and student government.  He served on the Honor Court, Student Senate and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.

He received his Medical Degree from LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans.  He completed his internship at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and his neuro residency at Charity Hospital, New Orleans.  He completed two years of active duty in the United States Naval Reserve Medical Corps and was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Bob then relocated to Shreveport to open a private practice in Clinical Neurology.  He was a practicing Neurologist for 41 years.  This included working as Chief of Neurology at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and as a faculty member at LSU Health Shreveport.   Bob was Board Certified in Neurology, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Neuromuscular Disease and Clinical Neurophysiology.

Bob served as a Preceptor in Family Medicine at LSU Medical Center for 16 years.  While serving as Assistant Professor, he was Medical Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic.  He also directed the clinical clerkship for the Department of Neurology.   He authored many publications, in and out of his specialty.  In 2003, he was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award.

While attending Centenary College, Bob met the love of his life, Alice Ann Buchanan.  They married on August 18, 1967 and would have celebrated 57 years this August.  They were truly life partners.

Bob was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church.  His family moved frequently as his father was a Methodist minister.  First serving in Arkansas, they were assigned to the small towns of England, Lake Village and El Dorado.  In Louisiana, they served in Denham Springs, Coushatta and Winnsboro.  Bob felt closest to his Coushatta friends and remained in contact over the years.  In Shreveport, he spent many years at First Methodist and recently joined Noel Memorial.

Bob enjoyed an active life.   He was a cyclist, runner, triathlete and marathoner.  He was a world traveler with favorite trips to Spain, Italy, China and Key West, Florida.  He enjoyed time with his supper club as well as his Saturday lunch group.  Bob was an avid reader and was a member of a men’s book club.  He enjoyed listening to all types of music, especially jazz.   Another one of his hobbies was bread making,  much to the delight of his family and friends.

Bob is survived by his wife, Alice Ann Schwendimann; his daughter, Carrie Elise Smith and fiancé, Don Evans; his son, Robert Wood Schwendimann and fiancé, Shannon Lansing and grandchildren, Hart, Gabriel, Mason and Stella.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Will Andress, Paul Cooke, Mike Hardison, Dayne Hassell, M.D., George Jackson, Lee Lawrence and Jimmy Marrs.

A Memorial Service will be held at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport, Louisiana, on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow in the Church Parlor. Officiating the service will be Reverend Max Zehner and Dr. Carl Rhoades. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to The Community Foundation of North Louisiana,  401 Edwards St. Shreveport, Louisiana 71101, Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission, 901 McNeil St., Shreveport, Louisiana 71101, Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 or the charity of their choice.