Donald Hugh McDonald M.D.

McDonald, Donald Hugh, M.D. Dr. Donald H. McDonald, a Winneconne area physician for nearly half a century, died at Mercy Medical Center Saturday evening, October 31, 2009. He was 87. The son of Donald James and Frances Rose (McCullough) McDonald, Dr. McDonald was born March 5, 1922, during a terrific ice storm, at the Forest Avenue, Fond du Lac homestead farm where his father and siblings were born. His grandparents John Donald and Isabella (McMillan) McDonald settled there on their wedding day in 1857. He remained closely attached to the homestead throughout his life. Dr. Mac, as he was known by patients, peers, and friends, started his academic career after his 1939 Fond du Lac High School graduation by attending Oshkosh State Teachers College 1939 to 1942. He was a 1951 graduate of Marquette Medical School and completed an internship at Mercy Medical Center in 1952. He opened the McDonald Clinic September 15, 1952, and was in continuous practice until retirement in 1998. The result of his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 was to offer experiences which fortified his resolve to become a physician. In April 1945, he attended Officer Candidate School, Carlisle Barracks Pennsylvania (Army Service Forces Medical Field Service School), and advanced to First Lieutenant Air Transport command, July 1945. He served as Adjutant and Chief Executive Officer at Army Air Force Hospitals until discharged from Service to his Country. During his medical career Dr. Mac held professional memberships and worked on committees locally, regionally, and statewide too numerous to enumerate. He was an active staff member at Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh; Medical Director of Omro Care Center; Clinical Instructor Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin; Adjunct Professor Department of Nursing UW-Oshkosh, and was a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He lived and practiced medicine in a most dynamic period in medical history. From the advent of penicillin antibiotics on to non-invasive fiberoptic and laser surgical procedures. This era was exciting and excited Dr. Mac. He loved the work and the long hours. Hearkening back to his days growing up on the family farm, he knew the meaning of hard work but never considered medicine hard work, rather an enjoyment, in spite of legendary long clinic hours. For decades Dr. Mac offered the opportunity to high school and college students with career interests in the medical sciences to work in his clinic under the direction of the McDonald Clinic staff. He was so proud when these students continued in health related careers. He felt that hard work, dedication, and access to opportunity were important for success. He supported academic as well as athletic programs to help improve opportunity. American Legion Baseball, Badger Boys and Girls State, and the Winneconne High School Scholarship program are just a few he loved to help. Dr. Mac and his sisters Mary Jane McDonald and Helen (Maurice) Kaufman of Fond du Lac, traced the genealogical history of their family from Scotland's Isle of Skye to Lancaster, Glengarry County, and Ontario, Canada. Helen and Mary Jane preceded him in death in 1991 and 2003, respectively. Survivors are Patricia, his wife of 53 years, and six children and 14 grandchildren, Dr. Donald J. McDonald, wife Sylvia (Donald Thomas, Clare, Maeve, MacKenzie) of Oshkosh; Dr. Robert McDonald, wife Dr. Caroline McDonald (Patrick, Anne, Mike) of Oshkosh; Dr. Mary McDonald of Winneconne; Dr. Meghan McDonald, husband David Harshman (Mike, Matt) of Houston, TX; Dr. Shaun McDonald, wife Dr. Elizabeth Kimbrough (Heather, Beth, Michelle, Madeline) of Oshkosh, and Heather Sleeman, husband Mark Sleeman (Hugh) of Winneconne. Although Dr. Mac left active medical practice in 1998, he continued to have a care and concern for the citizens of the Winneconne area. He especially loved to recall his many deliveries over the years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at 10:30 AM, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 210 Pleasant Drive, Winneconne, with Rev. Doug LeCaptain officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Rienzi Cemetery in Fond du Lac on Thursday at 3 PM. A Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 4, from 4 to 8 PM, at the CHURCH, where a Knights of Columbus Service will be held at 7 PM, and a Prayer Service will follow. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church from 9:30 AM until the time of the Mass. Memorials in the name of Dr. D.H. McDonald for Winneconne High School scholarships can be made to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 230 Ohio Street, Suite 100, Oshkosh, WI, 54902. Mueller Funeral Home 904 E. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Winneconne, WI 54986 (920) 582-4242 Please submit online condolences to: muellerfuneralhomeinc.com