Dr. William H. Weiss

Another member of the Greatest Generation passed away on June 27, 2011, when Bill Weiss died at his home on the lake of natural causes. The legacy of "Doc" Weiss began on June 4, 1921, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Born in the midst of the Great Depression and immersed in the austerity of the coal mining region, William Harper Weiss embarked from there upon a 90 year quest to make his own way and wring every last drop of life from the fabric of this world by the sheer force of his indomitable will. In this he most certainly succeeded. Dad rejected the prevailing notions of his hometown and enrolled in Hiram College instead of working in the local glass factory. His sister, Frances, and brother-in-law, Myron Thomas, appreciated the incredible drive in this young man and agreed to help him attend medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. He then trained in Ear, Nose, and Throat at the Cleveland Clinic after World War II pressed him into the service of the Navy at Bethesda Hospital in Maryland. His medical practice in Springfield at 118 W Laurel spanned 35 years, touched upon countless patients, and brought about thousands of tonsillectomies and other surgeries. Doc Weiss was as fine a physician as has ever practiced in this area. When people asked him what type of doctor he was he would reply "A good one there are only two kinds." Of all of his accomplishments he was most proud of never losing a post-surgical patient or being named in a lawsuit. He married the love of his life, Rosemarie Lauer of Lincoln, IL, in 1947. They were blessed with six children; Suzanne Weiss of Boise, ID, John Weiss (deceased), Mary Beth Frideres of Helena, MT, Thomas Weiss of Portland, OR, Timothy Weiss of Springfield, and James Weiss of Boise, ID. Their 48 year marriage ended with Rosie's death in 1995. He is survived by 7 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. It is impossible to adequately encapsulate the depth and breadth of Bill's journey. His achievements outside of medicine were innumerable. A short list would have to include his many travels to foreign lands, his passion for conservation through Ducks Unlimited, the Illinois Board of Conservation Advisory Board and the Wild Turkey Federation, his commitment to Masonic organizations including the Ansar Shrine Temple and Royal Order of Jesters Court 20, and his service as President of the Rochester School Board. He was an expert hunter and fisherman, owner of a hog farm in Logan County, part owner of a meat packing business, astute poker player, clever inventor of countless "Rube Goldberg" contraptions, late night crooner, and story teller par excellence. His intellectual curiosity never left him as evidenced by his insatiable appetite for nonfiction. He loved pulling pranks, playing the lottery, and sharing the company of his many friends. Performing surgery, hunting ducks, hauling in fish (through various methods), throwing a party, telling a joke, laughing out loud, and tippling some Jack Daniels into the wee hours were all in a day's work for this gifted gentleman. It is often said that "Everyone dies but not everyone lives." Doc Weiss got all the mileage he could get out of his portion and, in the end, left nothing on the table. He would want us all to raise a glass, tell a story, and remember him that way "For the Good Times." Visitation will be Thursday, June 30th, from 4 to 8 pm at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral home with services Friday at the funeral home at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, http://support.shrinershospitals.org/