Dr. William "Bill" Bohnert

Dr. William “Bill” Bohnert, 85, died peacefully in Phoenix, AZ, on June 2nd, 2025, with family by his side.

Born in 1940 to Victor “PeeWee” and Lucille Bohnert in Jasper, IN, Bill was instilled with the midwestern values of family, hard work, education, kindness, and service. After excelling in high school athletics, he attended Indiana University (IU), where he joined Sigma Chi fraternity and became the university’s starting catcher. After watching Bill play, professional NBC sports announcer Dick Enberg, then sportscaster for IU, dubbed him “the stubby little catcher.” Though professional baseball was within reach, Bill chose service, earning his medical degree from IU in 1965.

Bill first came to Arizona to complete his internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix but returned to IU for his urology residency. Drawn back by memories of Southwestern sunshine and desert landscapes, he moved to Phoenix permanently in 1970 to join Urology Associates.

Committed to exceptional patient care, Bill served as President of the Phoenix Urological Society, Arizona Urological Society, and the Maricopa Medical Society. St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center recognized his leadership and expertise, naming him Chief of Urology, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and eventually Chief of Staff. He was also an active member of the American Urological Association, serving on numerous national committees before becoming its President in 2014–2015.

Given his athletic roots, Bill was a devoted supporter of local sports teams and served as the Arizona Diamondbacks' urologist, earning a 2001 World Series ring he proudly wore. He enjoyed the WM Phoenix Open as a member of the Thunderbirds, either “hoofing it” for 18 holes or grilling Thunder Dogs in the LifeBird tent. When not watching sports, he stayed active himself — playing tennis, golfing regularly at Phoenix Country Club and White Mountain Country Club, and skiing with his children and grandchildren well into his 80's. Adventurous by nature, Bill traveled all seven continents and regularly rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon—a tradition now lovingly continued by his children and their families.

Bill recently celebrated 60 years of marriage with Joyce, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. Together, they raised three children in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. All still reside in Arizona, with two of them following in his footsteps as physicians.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom, and sister Ida-Helen Lueken. He is survived by his wife Joyce, children Brad (Katie) Bohnert, Scott Bohnert, and Anne (Jim) Burns-Bayless; grandchildren Amanda, Jennifer, Melissa, Michael, Austin, and Tyler; many beloved in-laws, nieces, and nephews; and his cherished dog, Rosie.

The family offers heartfelt thanks to the incredible team at Hospice of the Valley Dementia Care Campus, who provided compassionate care during Bill’s final ten months. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is never an individual journey—it touches everyone connected to the person living with it, earning the name “The Long Goodbye.”

In honor of Bill’s memory, the family invites donations to the Hospice of the Valley Dementia Care Campus, the St. Joseph’s Foundation, or Thunderbird Charities.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.