In Memoriam and Reminiscences
In Memoriam
Melvin Apell '46
January 10, 2011
Madison, Wisconsin
Paul Bolich (resident)
February 5, 2011
Mound, Minnesota
David Hammes '54
November 5, 2011
New London, Wisconsin
Robert Hartmann '68
May 23, 2010
Waukesha, Wisconsin
James
Hildebrand '43
November 11, 2011
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Donald Jeffries '47
May 23, 2011
Shawano, Wisconsin
Charles Johnson '59
January 22, 2012
Madison, Wisconsin
Earl Kaske '59
November 26, 2011
Monona, Wisconsin
William Luetke '42
August 31, 2011
Gainesville, Florida
R.M. Nesemann '42
January 8, 2012
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Karl Rudat '73
December 6, 2011
Madison, Wisconsin
John Sanders '52
November 21, 2011
Worcester, Massachusetts
James Sands '47
November 15, 2011
Lake San Marcos, California
I. Ronald Shenker '58
August 19, 2011
Roslyn, New York
Elizabeth
Smithwick '55
October 19, 2011
Sacramento, California
Thomas Webster '55
August 14, 2011
La Mesa, California
Reminiscences is a forum to share memories about University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health alumni and friends who have passed on. Pay tribute to your fellow alumni by submitting your story to quarterly@med.wisc.edu.
Goodbye, Dear Friends
The Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) lost two great leaders in 2011 - John Irvin, MD '45, and Charles Miller, III, MD '62.
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"John and Charles were longtime class leaders who were dedicated to their school and to keeping their classmates in touch with one another," says Karen Peterson, WMAA executive director.
Charles demonstrated his leadership skills in medical school, serving as president of his senior class. He did his residency in general and vascular surgery at Hennepin County General Hospital in Minneapolis. He moved to La Crosse in 1971 and joined the Department of Surgery at Gundersen Clinic-Lutheran Hospital, where he had a rewarding career until retiring in 1997.
A strong believer in the value of a good education, Charles served 15 years on the La Crosse School Board, including several years as president. He received the Physician Citizen of the Year Award in 1990 from the Wisconsin Medical Society. The WMAA honored him with its Ralph Hawley Award for Distinguished Service in 2004.
Singing was always important to Charles. He sang from boyhood through adulthood in churches small and large. He died May 15, 2011.
John graduated from medical school Phi Beta Kappa and also was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. After medical school, he did service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and then completed his residency in internal medicine at Hines Hospital in Illinois. He practiced internal medicine in Monroe, Wisconsin, from 1951 to 1990, first joining the practice of Drs. Ruhkmnan and Baumle. The practice later became the Monroe Medical Center.
John was a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He served as president of the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, St. Clair Hospital medical staff and Green County Medical Society. He was an associate clinical professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and Public Health.
Playing acoustic guitar was a lifelong passion. He was also a curler and an avid fisherman. John died November 3, 2011, at his home in Monroe.
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