Premer, Dr. Robert F. "Bud" was the sum of many parts: a figure skater, golfer, doctor, veteran, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, speaker on alcoholism and drugs, loving husband, father, and grandfather. Born on December 12, 1926 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Bud left us on April 13th, 2017 at the age of 90. He faced his final battle against cancer with courage and dignity. He is left behind by his wife and best friend of over 50 years, Ruth, his beloved daughters, Danna and Sidney, sons-in-law, Ken Tegtmeyer and Stephen Migliori, and seven grandkids, Aly, Ben, Nick, Sam, Sarah, Izzy and Maggie. He is the son of the late Frederick and Mary Hastedt Premer and brother to the late Mary Louise Wright and brother-in-law to Benjamin Wright. Sports were a large part of his life; he skated competitively and, at age 11, was the youngest male at the 1938 US Figure Skating Champion-ships. Bud graduated from the Minnesota Medical School in 1950 and was drafted in 1953 while in residency at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. He served three years in the Army Medical Corps, being stationed in Japan, Korea, and Germany, and received the Bronze Star.After returning, he joined the Orthopaedic staff at the VA. He was Chief of Orthopaedics at the Minneapolis VA Hospital from 1960 until his retirement in 1994. In 2010, he was awarded the James Diehl Award for "outstanding service to the University of Minnesota and Medical Community of Minnesota." A prolific reader and academic, Dr. Premer loved nothing more than to further himself by way of a good book. 47 years sober, Bud traveled across the country speaking of his enduring battle with alcoholism. He was the founding chair of Physicians Serving Physicians, a founding member of the Board of The Retreat in Wayzata, and served as local chair of International Doctors in AA. He is deeply missed by family, friends, students, patients and colleagues. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 16th at 12:00 PM in the Lakewood Cemetery Chapel. Visitation 45 minutes prior. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor would be most appreciated to any of the following organizations: The Retreat, 1221 Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN 55391; PSP, 4530 W 77th St #240, Edina, MN 55435; The Orthopaedic Resident Education Fund #15034, University of Minnesota.