Dr. Charles W. Bourne

Bourne, Charles W., Dr. Loving Family Man and Physician dies at 79. On Thursday, May 31, 2012, Charles Warren Bourne, M.D. was born into Eternal Life. Dr. Bourne devoted his wonderful, full life to his family and to his patients. He cherished his beautiful wife, Brooke (Slocum), of 41 years, and his three children, Aynsley, Mary Whitney and Josh, all of whom were lovingly by his side when he peacefully passed. His dog, Zoe, also never left his side. Brooke and Charlie's love was as close to love at first sight as two people could come, and lead to a marriage made in Heaven just four months after they met. Together, they devoted themselves to teaching their children the values by which they lived. Each moment with his family was a moment Dr. Bourne treasured and savored. His twinkling blue eyes, handsome smile and pure, beautiful heart will be truly missed. Dr. Bourne lived his life with integrity and kindness, always. Dr. Bourne was born in Milwaukee on January 5, 1933, and graduated first in his class from Milwaukee Country Day School in 1951. He served as a captain of the varsity ice hockey team, and later in life loved teaching his children to skate at Winter Club. Dr. Bourne graduated from Princeton University, where he also was a member of Tower Club, in 1955 with Honors in Chemistry. He fondly called his children "tigers." Dr. Bourne honored the Bourne legacy of physicians when he chose to pursue a career as a urologist. Dr. Bourne's great-grandfather (Charles W.), grandfather (Bentley S.), father (N.W.) and brother (Richard B.) all practiced medicine, and the last two generations of Bourne surgeons were well known leaders in their field of Urology. His great-grandfather and namesake, Charles W., also served as a Union surgeon for the 11th Vermont Infantry in the American Civil War. Dr. Bourne, like his father and brother, graduated from and completed his residency in Surgical Urology at the University of Michigan Medical School. He loved to reminisce about teaching medical school classes and weekend grouse hunting excursions during his 12 years in Ann Arbor. Dr. Bourne proudly served his country during the Vietnam conflict as Commander in the U.S. Navy, and saved and improved lives on the hospital ship USS Repose, on which - he later told his family - urologists were also known as "plumbers." Throughout his patriotic life, Dr. Bourne could rarely be found without his blue blazer bearing a U.S. flag lapel pin. Dr. Bourne was an early partner at the Milwaukee Medical Clinic. He cared deeply for all of his patients, and he shared his compassion for his patients with his children, who enjoyed accompanying him on rounds at Columbia Hospital. He loved pediatric urology, and served as Chief of Urology at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. He honored his link with other servicemen and women, and kindly treated patients at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Dr. Bourne was a past President of the Wisconsin Urological Society, and a member of the North Central Section of the American Urological Association among other medical societies. He published extensively in The Journal of Urology, and taught at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Bourne embraced time with his family, and always made holidays, especially Christmas and Independence Day, and family dinners and lunches at favorites like the Town Club and Milwaukee Yacht Club incredibly memorable. He also loved the outdoors, and was an avid gardener, fisherman and bird watcher. He nurtured seedlings in his greenhouse, and looked forward to planting the flowers every Spring. He loved teaching his children to fish, and each summer shared the joy of the musky hunt with Josh in Eagle River. He adored his German Shorthaired Pointer, Heike, and trained her to be an excellent upland bird hunter. Later in life, Dr. Bourne studied the pattern of the birds in his yard, lighting up with joy at each cardinal and hummingbird sighting. Preceded in death by his parents (N.W. and Evan), brother (Richard), and father-in-law (Arthur L. Slocum), Dr. Bourne is survived by beloved wife, Brooke; adored children, Aynsley (Louis) Spencer, Mary Whitney (Ottmar) Wischki, and Josh (Blair) Bourne; cherished grandchildren, Wolfgang and Ilse Brooke Wischki, Charlie, Oliver and Lida Bourne, and Aliza Spencer; and mother-in-law, Ruth M. Slocum. Dr. Bourne was a member of North Shore Congregational Church, where Brooke and he married in 1971, and where his daughters were married and several grandchildren were baptized. Memorial service at North Shore Congregational Church, 7330 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point, will be held on June 22, 2012, at 1:00 PM. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to North Shore Congregational Church, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and The University of Arizona College of Nursing. The family would like to thank Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, who helped care for Dr. Bourne in his final days with love, respect and dignity.