Charles M. Bagley Sr. M.D.

Charles M. Bagley, Sr., M.D., a former Duluth resident, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Aug. 18, at his beloved Elbow Lake near Cook, Minn. He was 94 years old. Charles was born on April 10, 1911, in Talent, Ore., to William R. Bagley, M.D., and Marion Miller Bagley. The Bagley family soon moved back to Duluth where Dr. William Bagley resumed his medical practice. Charles attended Endion Elementary, Washington Junior High, and Duluth Central High Schools in Duluth. After a short time in junior college, he spent a year at the copper mines in Ajo, Ariz. Charles then attended Stanford University and graduated from its Medical School in 1937. He served an internship at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., and a surgery fellowship in Edinburgh, Scotland before returning to Duluth to join his father in medical practice in 1939. Not long after, Charles met the love of his life, Ruth Hartley. They were married on Dec. 28, 1940 and had a wonderful life together for over 62 years until her death on July 11, 2003. Together they raised six children and always took great delight and interest in all of their activities -- and later of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charles served in the US Navy during World War II aboard the USS Mattaponi, on convoy duty across the North Atlantic. During a stopover of his ship, he introduced penicillin to the Azores Islands and quickly became famous for curing cases of staph infections with only one dose of this miracle antibiotic. After the war, he resumed his medical practice in Duluth. Although his practice focused more and more on surgery, his interest and affection for his patients made him their family doctor and friend for life. During the course of his distinguished career, he served as Chief of Staff at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, President of the St. Louis County Medical Society, and board member of Minnesota Blue Shield. He was also a long-time member of Rotary International, serving as President of the Duluth Club 25. Along with other physicians he helped to found the UMD Medical School. He also helped to found Duluth Congregational Church and was very active in other civic areas. After retiring and moving to Cape Coral, Fla., in 1981, Charles and Ruth continued to be very active in civic and medical affairs. Charles continued his association with Rotary and its philanthropic events and volunteered his time as a physician at the North Fort Myers Senior Friendship Clinic. With Ruth, he was a charter member and also helped to expand the Cape Coral Congregational Church. They established two scholarship funds, one with the University of Minnesota -Duluth to aid medical students going into primary care and the other in Cape Coral to help hospital nursing staff further their education. After his wife's death, Charles moved to Hanover, New Hampshire to be closer to his daughter, Nancy, and his son, Fred. He continued to be active and interested in civic and medical areas and gave frequent talks to groups in the area. Charles also had a life-long love of the outdoors and spent much of his 'free' time fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, canoeing, and traveling. His favorite place to relax with his family and friends was at Elbow Lake in northern Minnesota, which he first visited with his family in 1923. His time was spent first at his family log cabin on the mainland and then at the cabin he built with his wife and children on an island in the lake. Even after moving to Florida and then New Hampshire, Charles returned to beautiful Elbow Lake each summer. It is fitting that this is where he died. His wife, Ruth Hartley Bagley, preceded him in death as did six brothers and sisters. Charles is survived by his six children and their spouses, Charles (Nancy) Bagley of Seattle, Wash., Fred (Jenny) Bagley of Mendon, Vermont, Peter (Beth) Bagley of Duluth, Susan Bagley (Gil Lewis) of Houghton, Mich., Nancy Bagley (Gary Chiasson) of West Lebanon, N.H., and David (Laurie) Linnes-Bagley of Minneapolis; ,along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister, Margaret Holloway of Phoenix, Ariz.; brother-in-law, John (Ingrid) Hartley of Denver, Colo.; and Caroline Hartley, Kenosha, Wis.; and numerous nephews and nieces. Charles truly had a positive impact on so many lives in so many ways. He will always be remembered with gratitude, love, and laughter. VISITATION:10 a.m. Monday with services at 11 a.m. in United Protestant Church of Morgan Park, 88th Ave. W. and Arbor St. Duluth. Memorials to United Protestant Church in Duluth, or The Bagley Scholarship at the UMD Medical School, Duluth, MN. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth. (218) 727-3555.