Dr. John HERSHEY

John E. Hershey MD (Lt. Col. US Army Medical Corp. ret.) died peacefully from complications of a stroke, at Holy Family Hospital, where he had taken care of patients for decades. He looked forward to his homegoing in heaven. Born in Harrisburg, PA, he was the 3rd of 4 children of Eli and Carrie Hershey. From the beginning of his life it was clear that a house could not contain his free spirit. He would disappear for hours to the forest and streams to explore, fish, hunt and bring home critters he would find there (a passion he passed on to his children).  He was an enthusiastic boy scout and worked hard to become an Eagle Scout. He graduated high school from Phillips Academy-Andover and went on to Haverford College and transferred to Colgate University to complete his pre-med degree. He enlisted in the Navy V12 program and attended the U. of Rochester where he obtained his medical degree. As an active duty General Surgeon, he transferred to the US Army and was deployed to Germany following WW11 as part of the Army of occupation. He served in Army hospitals in Füssen and Garmisch for 3 years. He returned home and served as an Army reservist while living in Seattle and later Spokane, receiving further medical training at the U. of Washington affiliated hospitals. Moving to Spokane he practiced at the VA hospital and went on to set up his private general surgery practice in north Spokane which later became Franklin Park Urgent Care clinic. He practiced at several hospitals. St. Luke's, Deaconess, Sacred Heart, Deer Park, Bonners Ferry and Holy Family Hospital. Dr. Hershey cared deeply about his patients, many of whom became friends. In 1968 the US State Department needed volunteers to serve the Vietnamese civilians in South Vietnam. He volunteered for 3 months. After a divorce and several years being single, he met and married Vickie, who he called his angel, crediting her with saving his life. At the time of his death they had been happily married for 49 years. After their marriage they had son Jason, daughters, Rachel (deceased) and Valerie and son Derek. Yearning to serve where medical needs were the greatest, John and Vickie volunteered to serve in a bush hospital in Papua, New Guinea in 1976. After volunteering at Braun Hospital, in coastal Finschhafen for 5 months, they returned to their home in Chattaroy, and made application to return to the hospital and people they had grown to love, as contract medical missionaries for the American Lutheran Church. In total they spent over 8 years there with their family. That meant returning 12 times to their second home. He retired from his medical practice at the age of 85 and was a Senior flight examiner for the FAA until his retirement. Dr. Hershey had a passion for flying and flew for over 40 years. He was a member of the Flying Octogenarians, the AOPA, and economy flying club. Unfortunately, at age 85, he nearly lost his life when he crashed his plane at Cavanaugh Bay landing strip on Priest Lake.  John was named Physician of the Year by the Spokane County Medical Society for his work in Papua New Guinea, and his years of medical practice in Spokane, which included serving patients from a local Drug and Alcohol treatment center. His heart research on myocardial revascularization was a life- long passion starting in partnership with Dr. Manual White in the sixties. In 1966 he, Dr. White and Dr. Hannah Kintner won the Aesculapius Award for experimental triple coronary artery substitution research from the Spokane Society of Internal Medicine. Dr. Hershey loved nature and purchased a farm from one of his patients in 1968. Adding to the property through the years, it has provided year-round opportunities for recreation for family, friends and neighbors. Over one fourth of it is now protected from development in a land trust. He enjoyed skiing, hunting, fishing, camping, wood cutting, kayaking/canoeing, hiking, ice skating, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling and loved riding his bicycle even after his stroke. Dr. Hershey was a member of Chattaroy Community Church, International College of Surgeons, Spokane County Medical Society, WSMA and AMA. He is survived by his brother, Donald, wife Vickie, children Jason Hershey , Valerie Hershey, Derek Hershey, God-son, Tom Johnson (Christi), Nancy Hershey, Mike Hershey (Jennifer), Ingrid Miller (Cary), grandchildren, Rylee, Shayne, Zoie, Manase, Grace, Jasper, Garrett, Kaarina, and Aubrey. Numerous nieces, nephews, and friends around the world.   Vickie would like to thank all who compassionately and tenderly cared for him in the last months of his life (son Jason, daughter Valerie, & niece Amanda). The services previously scheduled for Saturday, November 20, have been cancelled. A celebration of Dr. Hershey's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions be made in his name to Moody Aviation 6719 E. Rutter Ave. Spokane, WA 99212….or Inland Northwest Land Conservancy at 35 W. Main #10, Spokane, WA 99201.