In Memory Of
William Wahl, M.D.
1931
2014
William Wahl, M.D.
August 12, 1931 — November 25, 2014
William R. Wahl, M.D. (Col. Ret. USANG), 83, of Cheyenne passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne.
He was born August 12, 1931 on the Wahl Ranch homestead, south of Laramie, to Walter H. and Elvira (Murdoch) Wahl.
A 1948 graduate of Laramie High School, Bill enlisted in the Wyoming National Guard Troop C 115th Mechanized Calvary April 1, 1948. In 1949 he then joined the Medical Detachment of the 141st Tank Battalion and attended the Surgical Technicians School, graduating first in his class. During this time he was also attending the University of Wyoming, majoring in premed and working at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. In June 1950, he was ordered to Japan for the Korean Conflict to serve in the 382nd General Hospital at Osaka, Japan as the NCOIC in charge of the pharmacy. Enroute to this assignment he was sent to the Far East Medical Specialist Service School in Shinodatama, Japan. A challenging course that started with 20 students, only eight finished. Again Bill finished first in his class. Upon his return he continued his studies at the University of Wyoming where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med honorary. Graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1954, he went on to the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver.
After an internship in Pasadena, California, Dr. Wahl returned with his family to begin private practice in Cheyenne. Bill was passionate about his profession of family practice serving not only his patients, but as President of Laramie County Medical Society 1970, Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital, member of Wyoming State Medical Association, founding member of the board which created hospice care in Cheyenne, arena physician for Cheyenne Frontier Days and board member and past president of Meals on Wheels and was involved in establishing the family practice residency program in Cheyenne.
Concurrently, he served in the Wyoming National Guard rising to the rank of Colonel and selected as the State Surgeon General. His commendations include: Legion of Merit, Korean Service Medal, and Japanese Occupation Medal. He retired in 1991.
In retirement, Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, but most of all giving and helping others.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson.
Surviving are his son, Dr. Brent Wahl and wife, Fran of Longmont, Colorado; daughters, Jennifer Wahl and fiancé, Larry Kehl of Cheyenne and Ranette Bell and husband, Tom of Beavercreek, Ohio; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Commemoration of his life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 5th at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Family Support, www.wwfs.org , Davis Hospice Center, or the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.
He was born August 12, 1931 on the Wahl Ranch homestead, south of Laramie, to Walter H. and Elvira (Murdoch) Wahl.
A 1948 graduate of Laramie High School, Bill enlisted in the Wyoming National Guard Troop C 115th Mechanized Calvary April 1, 1948. In 1949 he then joined the Medical Detachment of the 141st Tank Battalion and attended the Surgical Technicians School, graduating first in his class. During this time he was also attending the University of Wyoming, majoring in premed and working at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. In June 1950, he was ordered to Japan for the Korean Conflict to serve in the 382nd General Hospital at Osaka, Japan as the NCOIC in charge of the pharmacy. Enroute to this assignment he was sent to the Far East Medical Specialist Service School in Shinodatama, Japan. A challenging course that started with 20 students, only eight finished. Again Bill finished first in his class. Upon his return he continued his studies at the University of Wyoming where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med honorary. Graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1954, he went on to the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver.
After an internship in Pasadena, California, Dr. Wahl returned with his family to begin private practice in Cheyenne. Bill was passionate about his profession of family practice serving not only his patients, but as President of Laramie County Medical Society 1970, Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital, member of Wyoming State Medical Association, founding member of the board which created hospice care in Cheyenne, arena physician for Cheyenne Frontier Days and board member and past president of Meals on Wheels and was involved in establishing the family practice residency program in Cheyenne.
Concurrently, he served in the Wyoming National Guard rising to the rank of Colonel and selected as the State Surgeon General. His commendations include: Legion of Merit, Korean Service Medal, and Japanese Occupation Medal. He retired in 1991.
In retirement, Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, but most of all giving and helping others.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson.
Surviving are his son, Dr. Brent Wahl and wife, Fran of Longmont, Colorado; daughters, Jennifer Wahl and fiancé, Larry Kehl of Cheyenne and Ranette Bell and husband, Tom of Beavercreek, Ohio; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Commemoration of his life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 5th at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Family Support, www.wwfs.org , Davis Hospice Center, or the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Wahl, M.D., please visit our flower store.
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