George H. Ishler, M.D.

ISHLER, M.D., George H.
of Kalamazoo Dr. Ishler passed away early Tuesday morning, January 3, 2012. He was born April 23, 1934 in Chickasha, OK, the son of the late Shelby and Mae Hoebing Ishler. George grew up in Chickasha, attended the The University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK and graduated from The University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in Oklahoma City, OK. He completed a rotating internship and a pathology residency at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, OK, where he continued a practice in Pathology. He was Board certified in both Anatomical and Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. On November 11, 1967, George was united in marriage to Gretchen Fulenwider in Tulsa. In 1967, Dr. Ishler joined the United States Army. He served as the Chief of Pathology at Reynolds Army Hospital in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, was a member of the Wound Data Research Team in Saigon and Da Nang, Vietnam, and completed his service at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded a Bronze Star. Dr. Ishler worked for the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Bath, NY as Chief of Laboratory Services, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Education as well as Acting Director of the Steuben County Laboratory. In 1975, Dr. Ishler joined The Upjohn Company as an Infectious Disease Therapeutics Staff Physician. In 1980, he earned the W.E. Upjohn Award; and retired as Corporate Vice President of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs. He was a member of American Medical Association and Michigan State Medical Society and Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and College of American Pathologists. Dr. Ishler was a former member and past President of the St. Monica Catholic School Board. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Gretchen Ishler; their three children, Anne Tom Affeld of Milford, NJ, Molly William Matejka of Twinsburg, OH and Justin Michelle Ishler of Chicago, IL; four grandchildren, Emily and Margaret Affeld and Liam and Rhys Matejka. A Memorial Mass for Dr. Ishler will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 7, at St. Augustine Cathedral, 542 W. Michigan Avenue with Msgr. Thomas A. Martin, celebrant. Friends may visit with the family from 3-5 PM on Friday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, Hospice of Southwest Michigan or St. Augustine Cathedral Parish.