Charles Wellso

DR. CHARLES WELLSO

Mount Vernon

Dr. Charles Wellso, a loving father and husband, died March 30, 2016, shortly after arriving at the hospital, with family beside him.

Charles George Wellso was born in Oshkosh, Wis., on May 8, 1928, the second of three children, to George and Esther Wellso.

He was preceded in his death by his parents and his older sister, Lucille, a microbiologist and his mentor during his early life.

He is survived by his brother, Dr. Stanley Wellso, of College Station, Texas, a retired entomologist, and his sister-in-law, Carol.

Charles' grandmother was dedicated to educating her grandchildren, teaching Charles to speak German and read English before entering school. His favorite childhood book was Hugh Lofting's "The Story of Dr. Doolittle."

In the old German tradition, work was life, and Charles had an incredible ethic for hard work and service, demonstrated repeatedly throughout his years. He welcomed into his home two foster children and over 20 foreign exchange students, and frequently extended himself in acts of generosity and kindness. Charles attended Oshkosh High School, graduating early, and began college at 16 at Oshkosh State. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1949 with a B.S. in zoology. That summer he became a graduate assistant in the UWM physiology department, working with Paul Seltlage, M.D., researching Speransky's spinal pumping fluid dynamics, and in the fall, entered George Washington School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Following graduation he interned at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and received his Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners. In July 1954, he entered a concurrent fellowship at Menninger School of Psychiatry in Kansas and started residency at Topeka General Hospital, where he was trained in the mastery of classic psychotherapy by the finest physicians and practitioners of the day. During his first year at Menninger he was called to military service with the 2nd Armored Division as a surgeon in the 29th Heavy Tank Battalion in Baumholder, Germany, then transferred to the U.S. Army Hospital in La Rochelle, France, where he served as a psychiatrist for 15 months. Returning to Topeka following Army discharge, he completed his residency and fellowship, married Carolyn Louise Knapp of Cedar Rapids, and obtained his board certification in psychiatry.

Relocating to California, Charles practiced psychiatry and headed the Mental Health Services under the State of California Short-Doyle Funds at Olive View Hospital, and served as clinical assistant professor at UCLA.

Upon learning that a psychiatry group in Cedar Rapids needed a psychiatrist, Charles, Carolyn and newborn son, John, returned to the Midwest and he began working at Associates for Psychiatry, where he would remain for 31 years, and during which three more children, Charles, Elizabeth and Amy, would follow. In addition to his practice, from 1960 to 2005, he was on the staff of St. Luke's Hospital, Linn County Mental Health Clinic, Abbe Center for Community Mental Health and provided psychiatric services to rural locations in Eastern Iowa. In 1991, he joined Cedar Centre Psychiatric Group, where he worked until retirement in May 2005 at 77. After retiring, he volunteered for the Community Health Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids until he was 80.

He was a member of Iowa Medical Society, Iowa Psychiatric Society, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity. Boards he served on include Cedar Rapids Art Association, Cedar Rapids Symphony, St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Jane Boyd Community House. The challenge of being a doctor over the years was not being able to share his professional daily life with those closest to him, but he loved helping others. At Charles' retirement dinner in 2005, head of Mercy Medical Center James Tinker acknowledged the depth of service of Dr. Wellso, who "accepted everyone that needed help regardless of inability to pay or their medical condition," even those who came into his office in chains. Charles was active socially in many clubs and groups: The Astronomy Club, Mount Vernon Rotary, Hawkeye Bicycle Club, Peas and Carrots dinner group, CRCC and The Book Club, of which he was a member for 56 years. In retirement, he gathered weekly with groups of dear friends meeting for breakfast, French-speaking lunch group and Coe College events. He loved gaudy Welsh pottery, music, travel and food. Everywhere he went he carried a book, and at home a book always was within reach, and often a piece of cheese. Though he pursued many interests, few gave him more delight than playing trumpet. In college Chuck played trumpet in the Oshkosh and Topeka symphonies. In high school he played and recorded with his jazz band, the Hub Caps. Thirty years later, on a road trip to visit his mother in Oshkosh, the family was amazed to hear one of the band's recordings from the 1940s on the radio. He ceased playing when his practice started, wishing to devote more time to his patients. After retirement he resumed playing in the Shriners' Band, the Rockwell Collins Band, Mount Vernon Municipal Band and the New Horizon Band, in which he played until just before passing.

During the last few years of his life when Chuck became more physically unsteady, the Wellso family wishes to express our gratitude to the hundreds of people who helped him out of chairs when he got stuck in public places, and those who extended a helping hand to an elder man whose body was tiring, yet remained determined to get about and do the things that brought joy to his life. He shall be greatly missed.

Surviving him are his wife of 56 years, Carolyn Wellso of Mount Vernon; their children, John Wellso of Mount Vernon, Charles Wellso of Denver, Colo., and daughter-in-law Carmel, Elizabeth Wellso of Stevens Point, Wis., and son-in-law Stuart Morris and Amy St. Onge of Seattle, Wash. Grandchildren include Marcus and Amelia Morris, Lucia and Naomi Wellso and Gideon St. Onge.

He is survived by his beloved parrot, "Poncho," often seen perched upon his shoulder. Poncho is 47 years old and is currently living with grandchildren Marcus and Amelia Morris in Stevens Point.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon on Friday, April 22, at 11 a.m.; a reception will follow at the Palmer House Stable in Solon.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer a donation to the clinic where Chuck volunteered in his later life, Community Health Free Clinic, 947 14th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.