Michael Allen Schwalke M.D.

SHREVEPORT, LA - Michael Allen Schwalke, M.D., 61, of Shreveport, LA passed away Monday, July 13, 2015. Visitation will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Haughton from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Funeral services will be at Brookwood Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA on Friday, July 17th at 11:00 a.m. Pallbearers will be dear friends and family, R. McIntyre Bridges, M.D., Mark F. Brown, M.D., Thom Farris, James Pellicane, M.D., Lane Rosen, M.D., James G. Smith, M.D., Joseph C. Schwalke and Kevin Welch.

Mike was born in Bethesda, Maryland on May 3, 1954. Mike grew up in Tampa, FL and attended Florida State University. He then went to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA where he received his Masters’ in Chemistry. He attended medical school at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA. He did his General Surgery residency at Brown University in Providence, RI, and he returned to MCV to complete his Surgical Oncology training. In 1991, he worked at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport as an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery. Mike started his general surgical private practice in Shreveport in 1995 of the campus of Willis-Knighton South. In 2004, he began working for Willis-Knighton Physician Network, practicing at Willis-Knighton Pierremont until this past January.

He was married to Carol Ann Schwalke on September 16, 1995 and is survived by his wife and children, Joseph Dean Schwalke, 17, and Anna Catherine

Schwalke, 7; and his brother, Joseph C. Schwalke of Brandon, FL,.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph C. Schwalke, his mother, Caroline Melton Schwalke, and sons Michael A. Schwalke II and John Robert Schwalke.

Mike loved to travel and enjoy the tastes and sights of different cities. Over the years, he had a passion for fast cars, boats, horses and cigars. But his greatest love was surgery --- being a surgeon and taking care of patients made him happy. His laughter filled a room when he was among friends and loved ones, and his quick, dry wit and ready sarcasm endeared him to many.

He was truly loved by his family. His baby doll, Anna Catherine, was the light of his life, and Joseph the pride of his heart. His suffering ended at home with his wife and loved ones who take comfort in the fact that he is now in the arms of his Lord and Savior and alongside his sons, Johnny and Bubba, who went there before him.

Mike was instrumental in saving so many lives as a surgeon. He performed the first breast conserving surgery in this region when he came to LSUMC in 1991, and he was a tireless advocate for this procedure. He wrote books, chapters and countless scientific articles on breast cancer and tumor biology, and he advanced the treatment of minimally invasive procedures and techniques such as cryotherapy.

The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Keaveny of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, Drs. Anil Veluvolu, Mike Durci and Bob Nickelson of the WK Cancer Center, Dr. Dan Moller and WK Hospice.

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Donations may be made to WK Cancer Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Mayo Clinic.