William Wells Cruzen

1950 - 2016

Dr. William Cruzen

Dr. William Wells Cruzen, 65, of O'Fallon, Ill., born Aug. 11, 1950, in Newton, Iowa, passed away May 10, 2016, at Lake Ozark, Mo.

William attended Pella Community High School in Pella, Iowa. He participated in the football and wrestling programs, and graduated in 1968. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from Drake University, he attended the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery of Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated in 1976 with his doctorate in osteopathy. He served in the United States Air Force, as an emergency physician in Kokomo, Ind., and later transferred to Scott AFB, where he settled in O'Fallon, Ill., with his wife Carla. He worked as the director of the emergency department at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville, Ill. In 1983, he founded Midwest Emergency Department Services (MEDS), an emergency department staffing and management company. He was devoted to his work, family, a lover of music, and all things to do with Astronomy.

He was preceded in death by his father, John William Cruzen; two sons, William Casey Cruzen and Andrew John Cruzen; and in-laws, Case and Inez Van Arkel.

William is survived by his wife, Carla, nee Van Arkel, Cruzen of O'Fallon, Ill.; son, Jesse Wells Cruzen of O'Fallon, Ill.; daughter, Kathryn Claire (Kyle Stephen) Cook of Pinellas Park, Fla.; his grandson, Otto; his mother, Barbara Jean Cruzen of Pella, Iowa; sister, Nancy (Jim) O'Shea of Chicago, Ill.; brother, John Cruzen of St. Louis, Mo.; a niece, Bridget O'Shea of Chicago, Ill.; and nephew, Brian O'Shea of Raleigh, N.C.

Memorials may be made to Four Corners Country Church, 24696 U.S. Highway 85 PMB 177, Four Corners, Wyo. 82715.

Funeral: A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the South Nave of the Cathedral of St. Peter, 200 W. Harrison St., Belleville, Ill. Interment will take place at a later date at Boyd Cemetery, Four Corners, Wyo.