Evanston Obituary: Nicholas Clarence Wetzel, Jr.

The following obituary is courtesy of Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

Nicholas Clarence Wetzel, Jr. a resident of Evanston, IL for 60 year passed away in his home surrounded by his children and caregiver.
Living long is a privilege; living well is by design: To do both is a rare, laudable and remarkable accomplishment. Nick managed to do both. He was a Father, Husband, devout Catholic, Scholar, Researcher, Sportsman, Athlete, and most importantly in service to his fellow man as a good and noble Physician. He was a man of consummate decency throughout his life; he invariably did more for others than for himself. His devotion to his Principles, Family and Profession remained with him to the end.
Born in Jacksonville, FL on July 17, 1920 to Gertrude and Nicholas Wetzel, Nick was raised in Waukegan, IL and graduated from Lake Forest Academy in 1938. He graduated from Princeton University in 1942, and attended Northwestern University Medical School where he received his MB (1945), MD (1946), MS (1950), and PhD (1956).

Nick was an adventurer and avid mountain climber, scaling the peaks of the Matterhorn in Switzerland (1958), the Grand Tetons (1961), was one of the first 125 climbers to summit Mt. McKinley (1962), Mt. Fuji in Japan (1965), and four ascents up the east face of Longs Peak (1959-63).
Nick also attended the opera since high school and was a longtime subscriber to the Lyric Opera. He was an ardent bibliophile, collecting many first edition novels. His wonderful woodworking skills were prized possessions. Another lifelong passion of Nick’s was education. He supported many in their pursuit of higher education.

He had a lifelong love for the camera that began during his college days as the Photographic Editor of The Daily Princetonian. Nick spent a great deal of time developing his own film and enjoyed making movies of his family and world travels.

Nick cherished chasing the elusive bonefish and tarpon with his fly rod in the Florida Keys and Bahamas and later became an expert fly tier. He won a Miami Herald fishing tournament with a 125 lb. tarpon that took over three hours to land on his fly rod. That shoulder bothered him quite a bit later in life.

Perhaps, his greatest love was for his remote and rustic cabins in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; it brought his family together. His dinnertime stories were marvelous recounts of his past adventures. Nick spent his summers musky and trout fishing and in the fall deer and bird hunting. The maintenance of such also led him to become an accomplished carpenter, plumber, and electrician.
He was a Medical Officer with the U.S. Naval Reserves (1945 – 1947) which included Internships at Naval Hospitals in San Diego, Guam and Truk islands. He completed his Residency in General Surgery at Passavant Memorial Hospital (1948 – 1949); his Fellowship in Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Medical School (1949 – 1952); He was the Attending Surgeon – Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chief Neurological Surgeon (1976 – 1987); Neurological Surgeon, U.S. VA Research Hospital Lakeside (1959 – 1987); He joined the faculty of Northwestern Medical School in 1952, and was Professor of Surgery (1976 – 1989), Emeritus (1989); He also was the Chief of Neurological Surgery, VA, Lakeside Medical Center (1976 – 1988); Associate Editor of Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics for over thirty years. He ran the neurological service of the VA Lakeside Hospital for most of its existence, and it became the model for other academic medical centers.

His Partners in private practice included Loyal Davis, Chicago’s first neurosurgeon, and Daniel Ruge, President Reagan’s personal physician during his first term.

He was a Member of the University Club – Chicago since 1954, the North American Racquet Association, the Federation of Fly Fisherman and the National Rifle Association. He had memberships with the American Medical Association, a fellow with the American College of Surgeons, Harvey Cushing Society, Western Surgical Association, American Association for Advancement of Science, Chicago Surgical Society, Chicago Neurological Society, Sigma XI, and Society of Medical History of Chicago.
Medical Officer with the U.S. Naval Reserve (1945 – 1947)
He is survived by his loving wife Helen of almost 70 years; his children Mari Quick (Tom), Nicholas III, Paul (Trish), Susan Fackler (Mark), Sara, Laine Hoffman (Skip), Peter, Richard (Karen), and Stephen (Patrice); his grandchildren Suzanne Prochazka, Rosanne Urbik (Jerry), Sam Quick (Ann), Katie Quick, Nicky Wetzel, Brian Wetzel, Cynthia Wetzel, Alanna Yeargain (Joe), Brenna Wilson, Tim Kostner, Emily Kemmeling (Alex), Everett Wood, Madelaine Wood, Greta Wetzel, Ava Wetzel, and Max Wetzel; and his great-grandchildren Natalie and Avery Prochazka, Amelia and Mallory Urbik, Owen Yeargain, and Mackinzie Wetzel. He is also survived by his sister Mary Klingensmith.

Visitation Sunday, February 8, 2015, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral Monday, February 9, 2015, 9:15 a.m. from Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd, at Skokie Blvd. and Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077 to Saint Mary Church, 1012 Lake Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Mass 10:00 a.m.
Interment Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Catholic Charities, 721 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60654 or The Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 West Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632 are appreciated.

Info: www.donnellanfuneral.com or (847)675-1990.

VISITATION

Sunday February 8, 2015, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Services, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, Illinois 60077
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FUNERAL MASS

Monday February 9, 2015, 10:00 AM at Saint Mary Church Evanston, 1012 Lake Street at Oak Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201
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INTERMENT

Monday February 9, 2015 at Ascension Cemetery, 1920 Buckley Road, Libertyville, Illinois 60048
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