Obituary of Franklyn Trumpff Thatcher

Franklyn Trumpff Thatcher, 87, Fort Atkinson, WI died on October 8, 2009 following a courageous battle with the infirmities of advanced age. He was born May 2, 1922 to Edmund Sheldon Thatcher and Eugenie Marguerite (Siefert) Thatcher in Milwaukee, WI, where his father was a skilled chemist and pharmacist operating Thatcher's Drug Store at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Franklin Place and taught at the Marquette Medical School, also developing a flu vaccine and assisting the Medical Examiner for the State of Wisconsin in his laboratory. Frank graduated from Riverside High School, where he played the viola, participated in track and football and was the City of Milwaukee diving champion, and the University of Wisconsin Madison where he played Badger Football. He played semi-professional football with the Delavan Red Devils as tight end. Frank was married to Carol Jean (Lewis) Thatcher for 49 years until her death in 1991. They are survived by three children, Candace (Peter) Midboe, Valrico, FL, Virginia (Jeffrey) Newcomb, Fort Atkinson, and Gregg (Debbie) Thatcher, Cudahy, WI, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Frank fought in the U.S. Army in World War II for over three years in the Pacific Theater, liberating New Guinea and the Southeran Phillipines, and crossing the Equator twice. Frank and his family lived in Cambrdige, WI, where he served as President of the Cambridge School Board for eight years and served as Vice President of the Board of the Lake Ripley Country Club, where he enjoyed golfing as long as he could play. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, and trap shooting. Frank was President of the Seefurth-McGiveran Corporation, Employee Benefit Plan Consultants, working with doctors, hospitals and professionals throughout Wisconsin and was appointed by Governor Thompson to the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Patients Compensation Fund and was a consultant to the Wisconsin Hospital Association. He was instrumental in forming the current legislation on medical malpractice. Frank was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Donald Sheldon Thatcher, formerly Chief of Staff of Milwaukee County Hospital. He is survived by his second wife, Lee Anderson Thatcher, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 4:00PM at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 302 Merchants Avenue, Fort Atkinson, WI; friends may call one hour prior to the service. The family would like to thank Dr. Jeff McGuiore, who compassionately cared for Frank over the past years, and those at Countryside who cared for him most recently.