Joseph Acker Jr.

Joseph Acker, Jr.

Knoxville, TN

Joseph E. Acker, Jr., MD, FACC or JE, age 97, passed on Sunday evening August 7, 2016 at his multi-generational home on Middlebrook Pike. He was the son of the late Dr. J.E. Acker, Sr., and Kate Edington Acker. He was a proud first family of Tennessee, tracing his roots in the West Knoxville area to the Lohnes (Lonas), Wells and Edington families, as well as Acker. He was recently honored as an alumnus of Old Knoxville High. He then graduated from UT Knoxville, as well as Medical School at UT Memphis. He performed his internship in Kansas City, there meeting his wife, Betty. He was a member of The Greatest Generation who served his country in WW II, volunteering the day after Pearl Harbor and leaving his medical residency to begin Naval training in San Diego and subsequently serving in the South Pacific as a medical officer. One of the very first physicians to complete his training in cardiology and to be board certified in Knoxville, he was one of three founders of the Knoxville Cardiovascular Group. He was Chief of Staff at several Knoxville hospitals and organized the first Cardiac Intensive Care Units in Knoxville. In addition, he organized the first Cardiac Rehabilitation programs at several Knoxville hospitals and worked world wide to develop these programs. He was very active in his faith and church (founded by his two grandfathers) Central Baptist Church of Bearden, through serving as a deacon and on pastor search and budget committees, as well as teaching a variety of Sunday school classes. Throughout his very long, productive life, his major interests other than family were woodworking, traveling, farming at his ancestral farm on Middlebrook, horseback riding, and tracing his roots.

He was preceded in death by his sister, (Sis); brother, Dr. Robert E. Acker; first wife, Betty Gutch Acker; daughters, Julia Acker Van Mol and Judy Acker Mitchell. He leaves behind wife, Polly Phillips Acker; daughter, Janet Acker Fox (Dan); two sons, John H. Acker, MD (Carol) and Joe Acker (Faye); two sons-in-law, Gordon Van Mol and Don Mitchel; as well as Polly's children, Linda, Jenny, Joe and Polly; his seven grandchildren; and a score of great-grandchildren. He and his family appreciated the love and attention of his great caregivers, Kathy, Nicole, Jessika, Stella and Gloria.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Central Baptist Church of Bearden, 6300 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919, as well as the Kate Edington Acker Scholarship Fund at Carson Newman University, P.O. Box 557, Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00–11:00 a.m., at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with a memorial service to follow. Interment will be private. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com.