Dr. Robert Sanner Jr.
Dr. Robert Frederick Sanner Jr. was born Jan. 13, 1931, near Pittsburgh, Pa., to the late Robert F. Sanner Sr. and late Caroline (Pflugfelder) Sanner.
A private family graveside service will be held.
The family will receive friends 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at White-Ranson Funeral Home.
He graduated from Baldwin Township High School in Pennsylvania in 1948, Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., in 1952 and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1956. Upon graduation from medical school, he entered the University of Michigan surgical residency program and went on to complete his general surgery residency requirements at Boston University Hospital in Boston, Mass. He spent time perfecting his surgical craft at VA hospitals in the New Jersey and New York City area before joining the United States Air Force in 1964 for a 2-year enlistment in Bittenburg, Germany. He was Honorably Discharged from the USAF in 1966 with a Captain’s rank.
Upon his return to the United States, Dr. Sanner began private practice in general surgery in the Northshore area of Massachusetts. In 1978, Dr. Sanner moved to Tennessee after a recommendation from a fellow medical school classmate who lived and practiced in Memphis, but he decided small town living suited him better. It was in Union City that he would join the Doctor’s Clinic and go on to practice general surgery for the next 25 years before his retirement in 2003.
A man of many interests, Dr. Sanner was an avid golfer who was a member of Poplar Meadows Country Club for over 40 years and recorded 3 holes-in-one during his lifetime. Dr. Sanner also thoroughly enjoyed snow skiing until the age of 86 and traveled the globe to pursue his passion for the slopes. An accomplished duplicate bridge player, Bob played weekly bridge games in Union City and Fulton, Ky. As much as anything though, he was a proponent of learning and education, and enjoyed sitting in his chair with a good book, often reading 1-2 books per week.
He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Matthew Sanner (Annie) of Union City, Erika Sanner Donovan (Brian) of Amesbury, Mass., and Meredith Sanner Kepron (Scott) of Bellevue, Wash. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and his faithful dog, Brian Michael Donovan, John Robert Donovan, Kassandra Cate Kepron, Robert Michael Kepron, Tyler Stott Kepron, Jane Caroline Sanner, Chester Holt Sanner and Curly.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in Dr. Sanner’s name be made to the Obion County Public Library.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home website: www.white-ranson.com.
Published in The Messenger 12.27.23