Obituary of Dr. Lynn David Solem

 

Dr. Lynn David Solem, age 77, left this Earth for the Big Fishing Boat in the Sky on Friday January 28th, 2022.  He died peacefully at home with family by his side.  

 

He was a wonderful and loving husband of 50 years to his wife Patty.  Father to Tammy (significant other Alec), Tim (significant other Sarah), Shawn (wife Ashley), and Ryan (Puppy Partner Rabbit).  Brother to Dean.  Gpa and Papa to Abby, Avery and Calvin.  Uncle to numerous nephews and nieces, and a wonderful friend to many.

 

Lynn was born in Browerville, Minnesota. on March 23rd, 1944 to Lawrence and Dorothy Solem.  He worked hard on the farm and excelled in high school, graduating in 1962.

 

 

As a native Minnesotan, he attended the University of Minnesota. He graduated Medical School in 1969 and immediately began a Surgery and Internal Medicine residency with an emphasis on Immunology until his training was interrupted by military service.  He served in the United States Navy from 1971-1973, stationed in Rhode Island, New Zealand, and Antarctica.  When he took over as medical director of the South Pole Station in 1972, he replaced Dr. Patrick Kealey, also a future president of the ABA.  While in New Zealand, He married his sweetheart Patty Cordes on January 5^th,1972 in Christchurch.  They remained married for 50 years until his death.

 

After the navy, Dr. Solem returned to the University of Minnesota and completed a general surgical residency in 1977.  He began his surgical career at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center, later renamed Regions Hospital.  He was appointed the Burn Center Director from 1980 until his retirement from practice in 2006.

 

During his tenure in the burn center, Dr. Solem held several additional distinguished positions.  He was Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota, interim Chief of Surgery at St. Paul Ramsey, Chief of Surgery of the HealthPartners Medical Group, Board member of the Phoenix Society.  He was active in the ABA throughout his career, serving on multiple committees including Education, Organization and Delivery of Burn Care, Program and Verification.  He was treasurer of the ABA in 1997-2000, and became President in 2002-3.  Dr. Solem wholeheartedly believed the American Burn Association to be the premier organization to guide the care of the burn survivor.

 

As Director of the Burn Center at Regions Hospital, Dr. Solem brought excellence to the bedside, and his commitment to all members of the burn team.  He was the first Burn Director to recruit a Peer Support Representative who was a burn survivor.  He was a mentor to countless residents, burn team members, and Directors who followed in his footsteps.

 

After leaving the burn center, Dr. Solem kept working.  He was Director of Vahalla Place Treatment and Addiction Medicine care facility. As well as a Medical Director for Paradigm Catastrophic Injury Management.

 

Lynn loved fishing, working on cars with his children, renovating home projects, and enjoying a cold beer with his many, many friends.  Lynn taught all of his kids to fish and to love lake life.  Summer vacations up north were always a blast.  Tubing and flipping the children and grandchildren off the tube was a decades honed skill.    Family ski vacations and houseboat trips with the entire family made for hilarious memories.   Lynn and Patty traveled all over in the camper with their fur baby Kali.  They even took the grandkids on several "National Lampoons RV vacations".  Good times and madness ensued. Memories were made.  

 

To say Lynn lived an extraordinary life, is an understatement.  Most people can only aspire to do as many things, and help as many people as Lynn did in his life.  He will be remembered by many, and missed by many more, but his legacy will live on forever.