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McKenna, Dr. David
Dr. David H. McKenna, 77, of De Pere passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2013. David Hurley McKenna was born February 18th, 1935 in Graceville, Minnesota to L. Hurley McKenna and Irma Lewis McKenna. He grew up in Wilmot, South Dakota, where his pharmacist parents owned a Rexall Drug Store. As a youth he worked at the family drugstore as a soda jerk and delivered papers for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Dave attended the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota as a pre-med student and then went on to medical school at St. Louis University Medical School where he graduated in 1959. In his senior year of pediatric studies, he met Lillian (Lil) Laura Uebelhor at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, where she was an emergency room nurse. They were married on August 29, 1959 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, Lil's hometown. Dave interned at St. Louis City Hospital from 1959 to 1960. He completed an internal medicine residency at John Cochran Veteran's Hospital in St. Louis from 1960 to 1963. Dave was a cardiovascular research fellow at the University of Wisconsin, Madison from 1963 to 1965. He was an assistant professor of medicine at the university until 1966. Dave was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, where he served as assistant to the chief of medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. from 1966 to 1968. During those years he served as personal physician for former President Dwight David Eisenhower. Following his service he joined the internal medicine department at the Beaumont Clinic in Green Bay, WI in 1968. He went on to practice internal medicine in Green Bay for the next 20 years. Dave was chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Vincent Hospital and Bellin Hospital for several years. He also served on numerous advisory committees at both hospitals and was a member of the board of directors at St. Vincent Hospital, a member of the board of directors at Bellin Psychiatric Center, and most recently a member of the board of trustees at the Bellin College of Nursing. He authored and coauthored several articles in American and European medical publications. Dave was a member of the board of education at Notre Dame Elementary School in De Pere for several years. After retiring from 20 years of medical practice due to his illness, Multiple Sclerosis, he attended St. Norbert College and received a bachelor of arts in history.
Dave's patients were a tremendous source of happiness to him and after his untimely retirement, he kept in touch with many of them. He had a great affection for his Irish heritage and spent time in Ireland and the British Isles. Dave enjoyed good music of all genres and was an avid reader with a large personal library. He and his wife Lil gifted the McKenna Library to St. Vincent Hospital in the rehab section. Dave is grateful to Diane Legomsky for introducing him to the Greek philosophers while at St. Norbert College and Joseph Gabler at the University of St. Thomas for introducing him to Shakespeare.
He is survived¬ by his wife of 53 years, Lil; daughter Anne T. McKenna and husband Brad A. Hinkfuss and son Noah McKenna Hinkfuss of Madison, WI; daughter Maureen E. McKenna of St. Paul, MN; son Dr. David Hurley McKenna Jr. and wife Dr. Karen Larsen and children Alex, Fiona, and Ian, of St. Paul, MN; his sister Elinor Temple of Excelsior, MN; brother Dr. James L. McKenna and sister-in-law Mary Ann of Minneapolis, MN and brother Dr. Robert W. McKenna and sister-in-law Jane of Excelsior, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents L. Hurley and Irma Lewis McKenna, his sister Shirley Ellen McKenna due to post-polio complications in 1962, his good friend and brother-in-law, Duane Temple, and his best friend, Golden Retriever service dog 'Governor.'
Family and friends may call at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 South Michigan Street,
De Pere from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Monday at the church with Bishop Robert Morneau, officiating. RYAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY De Pere is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the McKenna Family. A memorial has been established at the Bay Area Humane Society and Animal Shelter in Green Bay and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
I moved away from the Green Bay area 21 years ago and just saw this. I worked at Beaumont Clinic with Dr. McKenna. We often shared our love of our Irish heritage and I so enjoyed his stories. My sympathies to his family. You truly lost a wonderful person.---Chris Nolan
Christine Kelly Nolan
Work
August 2, 2021
Thank you to Jim for letting us know about David's passing. It's been a number of years since we've seen you but you are in our thoughts and prayers. Ed and Bea McCarthy
Bea McCarthy
January 29, 2013
Lil: I hope Dave has peace now, but most of all I hope you do.
Peggy russell
January 19, 2013
To the family of Dr. McKenna.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We knew him well as both my wife and I worked at Beaumont Clinic while he was there. He will be missed and thought of.
Carl and Rose Kantola
January 15, 2013
Lil, my sympathy to you. We are almost to our destination in Florida and read the obituary on-line.. You are in my thoughts during this trying time.
Gail Kirchner
January 14, 2013
Lil and family - Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sorry that we can not express our sympathy in person due to being ill. Walter and Mary Ann Wilinski
January 13, 2013
dr mckenna was one of the greatest MD's i ever worked with he was greatly missed after his retirement
charlotte thies
January 12, 2013
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