John Wacker was born in 1924 in the small town of LaSalle, on the Illinois River. When he was 17 years old, he was injured in a hunting accident and nearly died. He walked with a cane after that, because the doctors couldn't fully repair the damage to his leg.
His time in the hospital convinced him to become a doctor. He graduated from the University of Illinois medical school and set up a family practice with his brother in Mendota, just 12 miles from where he grew up. He married my Mom, a hometown girl, and before long they had 4 children: 3 girls and a boy.
My dad had a “sliding scale” for his medical care. I remember patients who couldn't pay cash coming by the house to deliver a dozen eggs or a basket of vegetables, which he always accepted as full payment. For many years he was an “old-time” country doctor, making house-calls, delivering babies, completing minor surgeries, counseling, and providing basic care. He was the on-call local doctor for the railroad and for the high school football team. He worked hard: often up in the middle of the night, and routinely working 60 hour weeks.
My dad helped a lot of people in his life. He lived long enough to enjoy his 11 grandchildren and a long retirement. In November, 2013, at 89 years old, Dr. John/Grandpa/Dad left this earth, surrounded by family. He is missed.
These interviews were completed in 1999 when he was 75 years old, and represent just a small slice of his life.
