Wolfram Gottschalk

Dr. Wolfram F. Gottschalk

December 18, 1935 - November 27, 2011

Dr. Wolfram F. Gottschalk passed away in his home in Salem on November 27, 2011. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, he was surrounded by his family and holding the hand of the love of his life, Dorothee.

Dr. Gottschalk was born in Germany in 1935. After attending medical school in Munich, he emigrated to the U.S. with his wife and first child in 1963. Dr. Gottschalk pursued Plastic Surgery as his specialty, completing his residency at Baylor University. He also served in the Army from 1969-1971 while stationed at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska.

In 1973, Salem welcomed its first plastic surgeon when Dr. Gottschalk opened his private practice there. He retired from private practice in 2000.

The doctor was passionate about using his skill as a plastic surgeon to improve the quality of people's lives, including providing tattoo removal to participants in a regional gang rehabilitation program. This same spirit of giving reached into other areas of his life as well. A compassionate man, he supported the local food bank and the Housing Assistance Program. Dr. Gottschalk believed in environmental preservation, supporting many conservation programs. He adopted Salem's Aldrich Park, which he could be found cleaning each month.

He had many interests and hobbies, including bird watching, music, culture, and travel. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed a wide variety of outdoor activities. During his years in Alaska, the doctor's greatest joy was flying his small plane across the wilderness, with his wife as copilot. In more recent years, he oversaw the restoration of his antique car, a 1934 Austin Seven "Nippy?"; winning "Best of Show" at the All British Field Meet in Portland in 2010.

In his retirement years, Dr. Gottschalk was able to devote more time to an enterprise that had become near and dear to his heart, Sybil's Restaurant on State Street. As the owner of Sybil's, it was his goal to make Sybil's a family friendly gathering place where one can "come as a stranger, leave as a friend."

A devoted family man, Dr. Gottschalk is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dorothee, four children and nine grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 3rd at 2:30pm at the Salem Hospital Auditorium (Building B). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dr. Wolfram F. Gottschalk to the Marion-Polk Food Share, 1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE, Salem, OR, 97301.