Dr. Olawale Olusoji Idewu, 87, of Punta Gorda, Florida and a direct descendant of the Idewu Royal Family of Lagos Island in Lagos State Nigeria passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

He was born in the 1930s in Abeokuta, Nigeria to Stephen Babatunde and Soetan “Mama Jebba” Idewu. His father worked on the railroads, and his mother was a fashion merchant. An avid reader and believer in the power of education, Ola excelled in his studies and left his family and small village for America, after being accepted to Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL. Never afraid of adventure, he went on to study medicine at the University of Freiburg Medical School in Germany. Ola returned to the U.S. and promptly began his Surgical Residency at Harlem Hospital Center, completed his Residency and Internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and wrapped up his residencies in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Ola frequently traveled back to Nigeria, started a teaching hospital there and was able to create opportunities for many of his relatives to work and be educated in the US.

Ola met and married Martha Oneida Thompson, had son Ayodele Babatunde (“Ayo”) and moved to Chicago, IL, where he opened his practice in Otolaryngology. They had a second son, Olanrewaju Adebayo (“Lanre”). In the early 90’s, Ola relocated to Keokuk, IA and met and married Rosalenda (also known as Linda) Relador. Together, they had son Stephen Adeyemi and daughter Abeni Belinda (“Abby”). He finally settled in Port Charlotte, Fl in 2000 and practiced anti-aging before retiring to Punta Gorda in 2013. Ola was a member of the American Medical Association, National Medical Association, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Lions Club International, Rotary Club, and Movement Church in Port Charlotte. He also served in the Air Force National Guard and a humanitarian.

He is survived by his wife Linda, his daughter Abby, sons Ayo, Lanre, and Stephen, his first wife Martha, grandson Oluayanfe Makinde (“Ayanfe”), cousins Samiat Omolara Mumuni, Wakeel Rotimi, Remi Idewu, Kemi Pinheiro, nieces Musilat Abiodun Feyisitan-Akinjisola, Kubirat Olayinka Feyisitan, Huriwat Bolatito Feyisitan and a host of other relatives who will miss him dearly.

Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.