Chester Leon Doc Holmes' Obituary
Chester Leon Doc Holmes, 88, of Gills Rock, WI, passed away Saturday, August 4, 2007.
He was born in Lexington, Tennessee, on May 22, 1919, son of Chester Lowe Holmes & Addie Belle (Hamilton) Holmes. Leon overcame obstacles including poverty and inadequate rural schooling on his way to attending University of Tennessee Medical School. While at Lambuth College, Leon met Lorraine Wagner, his wife of over 60 years. She preceded him in death in 1999. Leon specialized in Surgery at the Mayo Clinic and started his surgical career at the Marshfield Clinic, but then relocated to Jackson, Tennessee after serving his country in Heidelberg, Germany during the Korean War. Leon was living proof that interesting things happen to interesting people. He was a pilot and built his own plane, and frequently flew back and forth from Tennessee to Gills Rock, Wisconsin, where he and his family summered. Gills Rock later became his home in 1984 when he retired from medicine. He also enjoyed traveling and was a history buff. Even late into his life, he refused to slow down and his retirement, like his life, was on his own terms. He built a vintage car at the age of 73, and enjoyed traveling cross country with Lorraine in their motor home. He could be seen on ladders chain sawing tree limbs, working on the dock, or being a Mr. fixit, all of this well into his late 70's. In this life he left few stones unturned, and he will never be forgotten since those who love him will never stop telling their favorite Doc Holmes stories. He will be remembered for never being too busy or too tired to lend a helping hand. Even though he lived such a long and full life, it is difficult to lose someone who lived with such vitality and who made so much of his time here. He is survived by his son, Dr. Craig Holmes, who followed in his footsteps and is Chief of Staff at the VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI, and his wife, Beth Bornfleth Holmes, and by his daughter, Terry Holmes Bott and husband, Dr. Kermit Bott, Iron Mountain, MI. He will be remembered fondly by his four grandchildren, Lindsey (Thomas) Morgan Lansing, MI and Christopher Holmes of Brooklyn, NY, and Dr. Leslie Bott who also followed in her Grandpa's footsteps and is a Pediatrician in Denver and Gregg (Shelli) Bott of Neenah, WI, Brother: Dr Reverend James (Ida) Holmes, Jackson, TN. Sister: Inez (Perry) Davis, Ft. Myers, FL. Funeral Service will be held at Allouez Catholic Cemetery Chapel, Allouez, Wisconsin at 2:30 P.M. on Thursday, August 9th, with Dr. Reverend James Holmes officiating. Entombment will follow the funeral service. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2:00-2:30 p.m. at the chapel. followed by pizza at Sammy's Restaurant in Green Bay.
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