Dr. Charles “Chuck” L. Wischman
1935 – 2015
“No man is free, except in his attitude” (Plato). This quote exemplifies how Chuck lived his life and his philosophy that “Happiness is a choice.”
Chuck died peacefully in his home on Sunday, November 1, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Chuck maintained a positive attitude throughout his courageous eight month battle with cancer.
Chuck was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 7, 1935 to Leo and Rosetta Wischman. Six years later his only sibling, John Wischman, joined the family. Chuck graduated in 1953 from the Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic High School. He graduated with honors from Michigan State and a degree in Zoology. He received a Medical Degree from the University of Michigan and completed his internal medicine residency at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In 1958, while in Medical School, Chuck Married his 1st wife Carol and they had 6 children together.
In 1966, soon after setting up a private practice in Plymouth, Michigan, Chuck was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. The family moved to Seattle, WA, where Chuck was stationed at Fort Lawton. In 1968 Chuck left the army and moved to Mercer Island. He joined Group Health Cooperative of Seattle, where he specialized in geriatrics. He inspired his patients and colleagues for over 30 years before retiring at age 60. Chuck was passionate about the Group Health philosophy of care and deeply believed and advocated that “Everyone deserves to have comprehensive care at a reasonable cost.” After retiring, Chuck lectured throughout the community on the art of aging well.
After the death of Chuck’s first wife, he married Judie Tweiten in 1971. With Judie’s daughter Sara and Chuck’s six children, they moved to their current residence on Mercer Island, which has been their home and sanctuary for over 40 years.
In 2009 Chuck shared with the Mercer Island Reporter that “If I had to, I could survive off my backyard, having a two-acre Eden of produce: fig, apple, plum and pear trees; an earthly patchwork of vegetables; berries and herbs galore. . . I have plenty, so you might as well share it. People come by and I give things away, including 150 pounds of dried fruit a year, and harvests of potatoes, leeks, fresh lettuce, tomatoes and spinach for salads.”
Chuck embodied the Rotarian spirit of “Service Above Self.” He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island for 18 years, leading club efforts from organizing the weekly Thoughts for the Day, to flipping pancakes at the Annual Summer Celebration, to providing food for the Mercer Island half marathoners. He was President of the Mercer Island Probus Club and a longtime member of the Puget Sound Angler’s Fish Club. Chuck was a leader and active member of the Group Health Association of Retired Medical Staff.
Chuck is survived by his wife Judie of 45 years, and their seven children; Mark (Carmen Anquili) Wischman, Jeff Wischman, Lori Jensen, Kim Wischman, John (Wendy Wells) Wischman, Amy (Stuart) Scarff, and Sara Crawford, their eight grandchildren (Austin and Addison Scarff; Julia and Charles Wischman; Gus and Joe Wischman; Egan and Finley Crawford), Chuck’s brother John Wischman (Joanne) and his nephew and niece, Andrew Wischman and Tammy Stamper and their children.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 14th, from 2pm-5pm at the East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue.
Memorial contributions in honor of Chuck may be made to the Rotary Club of Mercer Island or to Sawhorse Revolution, a nonprofit organization committed to one of Chuck’s passions, building tiny homes for the Seattle homeless community.
We love you Chuck. We miss you dearly, but we will feel you with us every time we walk to make our 10,000 steps a day, laugh with joy, feed the crows, harvest our gardens, care for our community, and strive to live each of our days to the fullest. You were larger than life.
