William Vance Dovenbarger II MD, 85, passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 surrounded by family.
Bill was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on July 19, 1929. He began his pre-med studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1955. He and Elizabeth Lowe were married in Zanesville on August 25, 1951. Bill and Betty had four children. Bill served his country in the Korean War as Captain and Flight Surgeon for the US Army out of San Francisco. He then returned to Cincinnati to complete his specialty training, and on November 1, 1961 joined the Internal Medicine Department at Marshfield Clinic.
Bill was the 40th physician to join the Clinic and served as a Pulmonary Specialist there for 35 years. During that time, he was proud to have been a member of the Executive Committee, and was Chief of Staff at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was the founder of the Pulmonary Department and the Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department. Bill took great pride in watching Marshfield Clinic grow into a nationally recognized major medical center.
On June 14, 1981 Bill married Jane Cappell Swanson, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Marshfield. After retiring in 1993, Bill and Jane moved to Venice, Florida and enjoyed ten happy years there playing golf, and living in the house they designed together. Summers were spent at their 100-year-old log cabin on Pike Lake in Northern Wisconsin. With a desire to be closer to family, they then established their homestead in Wausau in 2003.
In the ensuing years until his death, Bill was active in the city of Wausau as a docent at the Woodson Art Museum, a Mobile-Meals volunteer, a Library Coordinator of Audio Books for the Homebound, as well as various volunteer activities for the Wausau Public Library. Bill served as a green jacket ambassador for Marshfield Clinic with several of his retired colleagues, volunteering at Clinic open houses and special event fundraisers. As a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club, Bill volunteered his time and energy in various capacities for the United Way, including being The Grand Master of Popcorn Making for the Special Olympics. Bill and Jane also spent time as medical volunteers in St. Lucia for Ministry Healthcare.
Bill is survived by his wife Jane; his children: Diane Meissner (Jerry) of Chili, WI, and their children Josh, Jennifer, Tiffany, and Ashley; William Vance Dovenbarger III (Brooke) of Middleton, WI and their son, William Vance Dovenbarger IV; Eric Dovenbarger (Cynthia) of Palm Bay, FL and their children Tyler and Erica; Kurt Dovenbarger of Marshfield, WI and his son Kade; and Jane's children: Kristine Duros (John) of Kronenwetter, WI and their children, Nick, Alex and Jack; Shelley Glinski (Don) of Eau Claire, WI; Karen Swanson of Wausau, WI; and Ann Silberman (Peter) of Winnetka, IL and their children Leah, Benjamin and Eva. Their family also includes eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 10th, 11:00 am, at Wesley United Methodist in Wausau, located at 1101 Elm St. Rev. Tim Vanden Langenberg will officiate. Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, is assisting the family with the arrangements. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at 5:30pm Monday evening, with a remembrance of Bill at 6:30, at West 14th Restaurant in Marshfield. West 14th is located at 108 W. 9th Street. Those wishing to offer memorial contributions in Bill's memory are encouraged to do so to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Service
Wesley United Methodist Church
1101 Elm Street
Wausau, WI 54401
Monday, November 10, 2014
11:00 AM