Douglas Wacker

Douglas F. Wacker, MD

Laingsburg

Douglas F. Wacker, MD, FACS, FAAO-HNS, FAAOA of Laingsburg, MI - born September 3, 1932, son of the late Fred and Louise Wacker of Flint, Michigan, died April 8, 2014 after a long struggle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was delivered by Dr. White of Clio, Michigan during the height of the Great Depression in the bedroom of their small family home. His sister Dolores and brother Duane would be born in the same bedroom by the same doctor. His sister died of IPF as did his Uncle Ken. His brother survives, who is a successful dentist in CA.

Dr. Doug, as he was lovingly called by his patients and staff, held his dad as an example of great men. His dad would work nearly every night in the garage behind the home repairing automobiles to keep bread and butter on the table. His dad worked on the cars owned by many of the GM Executives who lived in Flint. Dr. Doug thought his dad was the best mechanic in the world or else why would these individuals bring their cars to him? He was soon taught to listen to the purr of the Cadillac in contrast to the noisy engines of a Chevrolet or Ford. His dad always wanted to own a Cadillac a dream never realized. His dad demanded the best and pushed Doug to excel, even if it took taking him out of Emerson Jr. High and into church school where a wonderful teacher by the name of Miss Goodsight taught him how to study and prepared him for life. Behind the scenes was his mother loving, caring and guiding her son to fulfill his dream.

Dr. Doug was a minister in the 1950's. His late songbird wife, Sally, was the key to obtaining this position as the economy of the nation was poor in 1954. The President of the Michigan Conference of SDA's loved music and he wanted her talent. They were introduced to the SDA church in Grand Rapids. To the horror of all, polio would kill Sally and the soon to be born baby girl six days later. This was the last national outbreak of polio. He left the ministry in 1956 and returned to college to finish pre-med. However, Uncle Sam would interrupt those studies with a two year military obligation.

After serving in Germany he returned to CA and graduated from Loma Linda University with his MD in 1964. He would find his chosen field as he watched an ENT surgeon give hearing back to a hearing impaired patient. During the surgery, the surgeon whispered into the previously deaf ear, "Can you hear me." The patient who could now hear nearly came off of the table. Dr. Doug said to himself, "I will learn to do that."  Indeed, he gave hearing back to countless patients.

During this time of medical education, he would re-marry and have three children. His family was the dream and desire of his life. However, the very fabric of this dream would be permeated, like a drop of black India ink in a glass of water, a story of its own. Daina, Anne and Alan survive, as does a single granddaughter Deanna.

He thoroughly enjoyed his career in medicine. He became a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, a Fellow in the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and a Fellow in the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. He enjoyed the responsibilities of being Chief of ENT at Sparrow and St. Lawrence Hospitals. He also chaired the Legislative Committee of the Ingham County Medical Society. He was a member of the following organizations: American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society and Ingham Country Medical Society.

Teaching medical students as an Associate Professor of Surgery MSU Department of Surgery was a privilege. He quickly identified the student who wanted to learn from the one who came for a visit. The eager learner would say, "I do not understand please explain that again or I did not see what you were talking about please show me again". The one who had come for a visit would always say, "Uh huh, yup or that was interesting". He would devote additional time to the one who came to learn. One of those students went on to become a University Department Head of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Over his last decade as a surgeon, he dedicated his spare time to Sparrow Hospital. He served as Chairman of the Outpatient and Recovery Units, Chairman of Quality Assurance, Chief of Surgery, Chairman of Block Scheduling which greatly improved surgeon's scheduling challenges, Board Member of Sparrow Development and Board Member of Physicians Health Plan, Inc. 

For the last 26 years of his life, he found his soul mate Dee Logé. She became his wife, lover, business manager, confidant and world traveling companion. She brought two wonderful children into his life from a former marriage, Cynthia (Hyde) Griffith and grandchildren Emma (Josh) Hahn, Luke and Lily, and LCDR Makaala (Lisa) Mazat and grandchildren Sydney, Avery and Caroline.

A celebration to honor Dr. Douglas F. Wacker will be held at The University Club of MSU, 3435 Forest Rd., Lansing, MI on Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the Douglas F. Wacker, MD and Dee Logé-Wacker Sparrow Endowment Fund. These funds are used to help fund advanced education for the Department of Dietetics. These are the individuals who are behind the scenes planning and providing hundreds of daily meals at Sparrow. This Department continues to research the many factors why there is intolerance to food and provide special meals for patients, young and old, who have these intolerances.

The dash between birth and death has been filled with all of the joys and challenges of a human being. Dr. Doug lived his life with gusto and urged those who wanted more to "Go Get'er Dun." He would assure those who would listen that they would be surprised at how lucky they would become, the harder they worked.