Dr. Charles Bahn

McCORDSVILLE, Ind. -- Dr. Charles "Charlie" Bahn of McCordsville, and a long-time resident of Cape Girardeau, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the age of 92.

The youngest of three children of William C. and Louise B. Bahn, he grew up in Cape Girardeau, spending his childhood and working life there.

Preceding him in death were his parents; both siblings, Dr. G. Eugene Bahn and Louis W. Bahn; and his first and second wives, Betty B. Morrow Bahn and Loeta J. McMackin Bahn.

He is survived by his children, Martel L. (Robert) Plummer of McCordsville, Charles F. Bahn Jr. of Aurora, Missouri, Christopher F. (Geri) Bahn of Loudon County, Tennessee, R. Stuart (Amy) Bahn of Hendersonville, Tennessee, and Stephen A. (Yvette) Bahn of Cleveland, Tennessee; as well as 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and four great-stepgrandchildren.

Charlie will be remembered for his ready supply of jokes, sense of adventure, enjoyment of the outdoors, love of family and his commitment to the medical profession and his patients. Likewise, many will recall his active involvement with both his and the neighborhood children via games, hikes, workshop projects, camping, scouting and sailing, as well as his highly-imaginative story-telling prowess. He loved photography and was a fine musician, playing both clarinet and saxophone at school and in a high school dance band.

Charlie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in medicine from Missouri University in 1949 and from Washington University Medical School in 1952.

On Dec. 27, 1949, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Morrow. After completing a fellowship at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, he joined the U.S. Air Force via the physician draft, and the couple and their young daughter moved to Okinawa, Japan, where he served two years at Kadena Air Base. Upon discharge, he completed a dual post-graduate training program at Ochsner in internal medicine, as well as their very first gastroenterology class.

In 1956, they moved home to Cape Girardeau, where he opened his initial medical practice, later forming Cape Internal Medicine Group in 1959, then Gastroenterology Specialists during his final few years in medicine. His foremost specialties included early work with the gastroscope, then pioneering work with the fiber-optic colonoscopy procedure in the 1970s. In the mid-1970s, he and several medical peers laid the groundwork, and initiated the purchase of land, for the Cape Girardeau Doctors' Park medical campus.

After the death of his wife, he married Loeta J. McMackin in 1976. They remained in Cape Girardeau until his retirement in 1988, at which time they moved to Prescott, Arizona. He and his wife quickly grew to love the beauty of the Southwest and exploring Native American history and culture. They could often be found camping throughout the West, driving back roads and exploring ancient ruins of the Native Americans.

During the next 15 years, he continued doing a labor-of-love, working in several medical-related jobs in Arizona. Charlie was a devout Christian and active in the Prescott First Baptist Church and Sunday school classes. He was a lifelong member of Rotary International. He learned the art of wood-turning on his lathe and crafted beautiful wooden bowls, many inlaid with turquoise and precious stones. Over his lifetime, Charlie enjoyed collecting and restoring antique cars, one of which won a national competition, including Model T's, Model A's, Rolls Royces and a Packard. He also actively participated in two medical missions in Ghana, Africa.

After the death of his second wife in 2016, he moved to Indiana to be nearer his children.

Memorial services have been held in McCordsville and Prescott.

A visitation for friends and family to celebrate his life will be held from 10 a.m. to noon June 1 at Drury Plaza Conference Center, 3351 Percy Drive, in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, Charlie's wish was for any memorial contributions to be made to one of the organizations he was so fond of, including:

• Ochsner Hospital Foundation, via Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Attn: Gastroenterology Department, 1514 Jefferson Highway, BH 607, New Orleans, LA, 70121.
• Heifer International, www.heifer.org/campaign/end-hunger-poverty-donation.html.
• American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839; or www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html, adding your name and "in memory of Dr. Charles F Bahn" under Donor Name.

Flanner Buchannan of Indianapolis and Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau are assisting the family.