Humphrey W.R. "Joe" Fluckiger, M.D.

Humphrey W.R. "Joe" Fluckiger, M.D., 90, of Springfield, died at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at St. John's Hospice. Humphrey was born July 26, 1922, in Surabaya, Indonesia (Dutch East Indies colony), the son of Jan and Aaltje Fluckiger. He married Madonna Gietl on August 28, 1972, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Humphrey began high school in Zeist, Netherlands and was enrolled in a summer French immersion school at Lycee Jacquard, Lausanne, Switzerland in the summer of 1939, as World War II was breaking out in Europe. He returned to Indonesia by ship around the Cape of Good Hope, Africa and finished his schooling at Geneeskundige Hoge School in Jakarta, Indonesia. Three days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was drafted into the Royal Netherlands Indies Army. As the Japanese quickly overpowered the islands, Humphrey became a Prisoner of War in a Japanese Prison of War Camp from March 1942 August 1945. After the war, Humphrey received his medical degree from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1950, moved to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship, and became an intern at Memorial Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. He worked at Memorial from 1950 1953 where he was nicknamed "Dr. Joe." He was a family physician in private practice and at Springfield Clinic from 1953 until 1990. After his retirement from private practice he worked for St. John's Hospital Emergency Department for ten years. Humphrey was certified by the American Board of Family Practice and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Illinois State Medical Society, and Sangamon County Medical Society. He was a staff member of St. John's Hospital and Memorial Medical Center, and President of the Medical Staff of St. John's Hospital from 1984 to 1986. He was on the St John's Hospital Board of Directors Quality Care Committee from 1983 to 1995. He served as a Major and the first flight surgeon with the 170th (then183rd) Tactical Fighter Wing in the Illinois Air National Guard. He was also a charter member of the Springfield South Rotary Club and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. Humphrey was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Denny and Jimmy Fluckiger. He is survived by his wife, Madonna Fluckiger of Springfield; six children, Salie (Mark) Travis of Moscow, ID, Cynthia "Cyndie" Gaines of Chandler, AZ, Stacey Ross of Petersburg, Jane "Candy" (Earl) Rago of Springfield, Angela (Michael) Christie of Springfield, and John Fluckiger of Springfield; sixteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Cremation will be accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center following visitation. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m. Memorial Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut, Springfield with Rev. Jeff Grant, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by the Department of Defense. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. John's Hospital, 800 E. Carpenter, Springfield, IL 62702 or Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL 62704.