Robert Van Hauer, who led Health Central

The longtime hospital administrator was a pioneer in the organization of multi-unit hospitals and clinics in Minnesota. The 96-year-old helped to raise 12 children.

By Ben Cohen

Last update: June 19, 2007 - 9:36 PM

Robert Van Hauer, a Minnesota pioneer in bringing hospitals into an umbrella group, died from complications of Parkinson's disease at his New Hope home on June 4.

Van Hauer, who also helped raise a merged family of 12 children and young adults, was 96.

In 1978, when Van Hauer retired as president and CEO of the former Health Central Inc., the firm operated Golden Valley Health Center, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Unity Hospital in Fridley and three clinics or hospitals in outstate Minnesota and South Dakota, plus several other entities.

Donald Wegmiller, the former president and CEO of Health Central who succeeded Van Hauer, said he "had good vision for what might work in the future, born out by the fact that the dominant organizational structure in operating hospitals [today] is a multi-unit system."

Wegmiller said that Van Hauer's success could also be linked to using proven processes in a disciplined way and that he was "unflappable" as well as "a warm and generous human being."

At home, Van Hauer met with other challenges.

His first wife, Elaine (Greenwood) Van Hauer died in 1961, and he was on his own raising six children. In 1968, he married the former Margaret Viehman, who had six children; the 12 ranged in age from grade school to college. Margaret died a few years ago.

Van Hauer was raised on a Montana cattle ranch and came to the Twin Cities in the late 1930s to earn a master's degree in economics at the University of Minnesota. After serving as an officer in World War II, he became a hospital administrator for the Veterans Administration.

In 1951, he joined the staff of the old Glenwood Hills Hospital in Golden Valley, the job that led to the formation of Health Central. The health care group is now part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics.

In retirement, Van Hauer ran a health foundation, worked in real estate in Arizona and found more time for his favorite hobby of upland bird hunting, said his son, Jan of Plymouth, who hunted with his father.

"He had a particular fondness for the North Dakota prairies. He loved being out there with his golden buddies, crosses between yellow Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers," Jan Van Hauer said.

In addition to his son Jan, Van Hauer is survived by sons Peter of Golden Valley and Chris of Minnetonka; daughters Mary of Minneapolis, Gretchen of Minneapolis and Juliana Baker of Eau Claire, Wis.; stepdaughter, Gayle Kirkman of Lake Holcombe, Wis.; stepsons Ed of New Hope, Tom of Minneapolis, John of Camden, Maine, Mike of Stillwater, and Dan of Plymouth (all with the surname Viehman); 13 grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren, and several step great- grandchildren.

Services have been held.

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