Dr. Donald Charles Moore

Dr. Donald Charles Moore

78, of Columbus, IN, passed away peacefully with his loved ones at his side on May 14, 2015. Our Dad had a strong desire to continue to live.  The goal of the surgery was to enable him to continue to live a full, active life.  He developed complications after the surgery but fought for 30 days in St. Francis ICU until his body could no longer continue the fight.  The family is very much at peace now because our faith tells us he is at peace in heaven.  We believe heaven is such a beautiful place, more beautiful than we can even imagine here on earth.

Our Dad adored his family, especially his wife Marjie of 53 years.  They were true partners in life.  They set mutual goals and worked towards them together.  Having a home on Walloon Lake was one of their main goals.  They wanted it so that their children and grandchildren would have a fun place to visit and build life long memories.  They've had a home on Walloon Lake for the past 30 years and for the past 20 of those years, Don and Marjie spent 8 months a year at their lake house.  They loved sitting on the end of the pier together admiring all the natural beauty Northern Michigan has to offer.  They also developed deep friendships with the lake community.  Our Dad loved family cruises at sunset, drinking margaritas, gardening, taking walks and playing golf with his friends.  What we now know was his last golf season, both he and my Mom each made a hole in one on the same hole at Walloon Lake Country Club.  Our Dad loved hosting our annual 4th of July party with extended family and close friends that grew each year.  He also was at the center of our annual New Year's Eve party at Walloon.  Don and Marjie loved spending each January visiting their daughter Anne and son-in-law Chad in Hawaii.  This allowed them to become very close to Anne's children Katherine and Charles.

Our Dad also loved his many friends.  For over 30 years, he would go on a 2 week canoe trip in Canada with the same group of friends from Petoskey.  He enjoyed golf trips with his Columbus friends to Ireland and Scotland for over 35 years.  He and our Mom had an annual trip to Sea Island with their close Columbus friends.  Each year it seemed someone in the group wasn't able to go because of an illness in their family.  Unfortunately this year was my Dad's turn.  His friends where in Sea Island at the time of his surgery and were all saying their prayers together.  Our Dad was also an avid IU basketball fan, having season tickets for over 40 years.

Our Dad had a real thirst for knowledge and was always reading and learning.  He graduated from St. Joan of Arc and Cathedral High School and earned degrees from Indiana University and IU School of Medicine.  Don spent 12 months serving his country and caring for wounded soldiers in a mash unit in Vietnam. He practiced radiology for a short time in Petoskey, Michigan, before becoming the head of Radiology at Columbus Regional Hospital and Columbus Radiology for 38 years.  He and our Mom also started and maintained a billing practice and a mammography Imaging Center together, which our Mom managed for 30 years.  He studied nuclear medicine and went back to IU to take MBA courses.  He also read books about love and communication.  He was a recipient of The Sagamore of the Wabash given by Governor Otis Bowen.

Don had a deep, lifelong Catholic faith.  He was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Columbus and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Petoskey.

Don wanted a large family and was graced with son, Vint (Marcie) Moore; son, Bryan (Nancy) Moore; son, Todd (Terri) Moore; daughter, Anne (Chad) O'Neill; son, Donnie Moore; son, David (Robin) Moore; grandchildren, Logan, John, Mary, Jack, Matthew and Katy Moore, Katherine and Charles O'Neill.

He was born in Indianapolis on January 23, 1937 to Donald and Margaret Moore.  He has a twin brother Tom.  Don said having a twin "was the best thing life had to offer".  Tom visited Don every day that he was in St. Francis and helped our family through every step.  He also has a sister Judy (Jim) Wegner and a deceased brother John.

Friends and family will gather on Monday, May 18, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church.  Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society in honor of friends and family that have battled or are battling cancer.