BREAKING NEWS: Humboldt pain care provider found dead
Greg Pekkala, a pain care management health professional who has served the Humboldt community for several years, was found dead in his rural Hamilton County home Tuesday morning by law enforcement authorities. An autopsy has been ordered. No word has been received on funeral services for the 59-year-old Webster City man.
By KENT THOMPSON
Hamilton County authorities with assistance from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation are investigating a suspicious death that involves a health care professional who has practiced in the Humboldt area for several years.
Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 9:18 a.m., the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was called to 724 Kendall Young Road east of Webster City for a welfare check.
Upon arrival, authorities found a deceased male subject. The man was identitfied as Gregory Allen Pekkala, 59, of Webster City.
Authorities have not said if they believe foul play was involved. The body has been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for an autopsy. The area around Pekkala’s rural Hamilton County home was marked with crime scene tape. However, Hamilton County authorities say there is no reason to believe there is a threat to other citizens in the community.
The welfare check was requested when Pekkala did not arrive for work at his Iowa Falls clinic location.
Pekkala operated the Advanced Pain Clinic with offices in Humboldt, Belmond and Iowa Falls.
The Humboldt location at 1001 12th St. N., opened in September of 2017. Pekkala, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, was seeing patients at the clinic in Humboldt on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Prior to opening the clinics, Pekkala contracted with Humboldt County Memorial Hospital for pain clinic services beginning in early 2012.
Pekkala graduated from the University of Milwaukee School of Nursing in 1987, and earned his anesthesia certificate from the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse. He was a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the American Academy of Pain Management. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1980-2002. He also instructed pain management courses at Texas Christian and South Florida Universities.
Anyone with information about activity at 724 Kendall Young Road prior to Tuesday morning is asked to contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at (515) 832-9500. Hamilton County Crime Stoppers is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to a suspect arrest.
According to a post from the Advanced Pain Clinic in Humboldt, patients will be contacted. People with questions can contact the clinic at (515) 604-6618.
