Tegler, Dr. Wayne J.

Dr. Wayne J. Tegler, 83, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, at Mercy Iowa City following a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City, with Reverend Michael T. Phillips officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Mercy Hospital Foundation or to Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Ill.

Wayne was born in Dyersville, Iowa on September 9, 1927, the son of Leo and Verona White Tegler. He graduated from Lamont High School in 1945 and shortly following graduation enlisted in the United States Navy, stationed in San Diego, Calif. At the conclusion of World War II, Wayne moved back to Lamont. On May 25, 1950, Wayne married LaVonne Mersch and the couple moved to Iowa City, where they continued to reside while Wayne studied to be an X-ray technician. After one year, Wayne and LaVonne moved to Benton Harbor, Mich. in order for Wayne to complete his training. In 1952, Wayne was called back into the Navy during the Korean conflict and was stationed at Great Lakes. In 1954, the couple moved back to Iowa City so Wayne could attend the University of Iowa for his pre-med and medical school studies. Wayne was a 1960 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

In 1961, Wayne set up his private practice in Iowa City and also joined the staff at Mercy Iowa City. He continued to practice and see patients up until this past October. He was the last solo family practice doctor in the Iowa City area.

Wayne took great pride in his work and truly enjoyed all of his patients. In his free time, he was an avid golfer, enjoyed gardening, was a strong supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes and loved to spend time with his friends and family. He was also past president of the Johnson County Medical Society, a member of the American Academy of Family Practitioners and a member of the Iowa Alumni Association.

Wayne is survived by his daughter Betsy (Mark) Larson, and their children Katie and Jake, all of Gurnee, Ill.; two brothers, Father Herbert Tegler of Cascade, Iowa and Harold Tegler of Oelwein, Iowa; two sisters, Margie (Jim) Simms and Thelma Broemmel, both of Denver, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Von; his parents, Leo and Verona; and a brother, Richard.

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