Frank Thomas Padberg, Sr., MD
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Apr 5th, 2014
- Death Date: Apr 5, 2014
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Biography: Frank Thomas Padberg Sr, MD age 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family on April 5, 2014. He was born on March 9, 1918 in Canton Oklahoma to Albert F Padberg, the town?s general medical practitioner and Mayme Thomas Padberg who taught school. Graduating Canton High School he attended Wentworth Military Academy. As a professionally trained baritone, he served as Soloist during these years and considered a vocal "career". As the 1937 Honor Graduate from Wentworth he was eligible for appointment to West Point, but elected to pursue a medical career at Northwestern University, Chicago Illinois. He also excelled at this institution, was elected to AOA, the academic medical Honor Society, and graduated in 1943. He was selected for internship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Helen Louise Swan, of Konawa Oklahoma, and Frank were married on Feb 6, 1943 and celebrated their 71st anniversary in 2014. As a Captain in the US Army Medical Corps he deployed to Bristol UK, Cherbourg France, and Liege Belgium, from June 1942 to April 1946 with the 298th General Hospital. Returning to Northwestern, he completed a residency in surgery and neurosurgery training with Loyal Davis, author of surgical and neurosurgical textbooks and father of Nancy Reagan. The family moved to Little Rock bringing the newly formulated specialty of Neurosurgery to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Little Rock Veterans Affairs Hospitals in 1952. A practice in Neurosurgery was based at St Vincent's Hospital from 1952-1973. During this time he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and served as President of the Arkansas Chapter. The Arkansas State Nurses Association awarded him Honorary Recognition in 1969. He was an active member of Rotary International and The Little Rock Club. Frank and Helen maintained dual residency in Chicago and Little Rock after he accepted a position as Director of Fellowship and Graduate Medical Education with the American College of Surgeons in 1973. He received the College?s Distinguished Service Award in 1988 and retired from the College in 1999. The Surgical Section of the National Medical Association honored him with their Distinguished Service Award that same year. In addition to the ACS, he was a member of other distinguished surgical organizations including the American Surgical Association, the Southern Surgical Association, the Southern Neurosurgical Society and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. As an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Frank served as an Elder and was an active participant in the Men's Bible class; in Chicago he served as a Deacon in 4th Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois. During church services his projected baritone supplemented the inspiration inherent in the hymns. International travel was a frequent diversion and he managed to visit every continent but Antarctica. He and Frank Jr. went behind the iron curtain to visit eastern Europe and Russia during the era of the cold war. The entire family participated in several reunions with the Familienverband Padberg (the international Padberg family) attending several reunions in St Louis, USA as well as Berlin, Cologne, & Padberg, Germany. Frank maintained a relationship with the families in Canton, Oklahoma and was a contributor to the church. Frank had a distinguished and honest character coupled with a heart for gracious generosity to less fortunate associates and charitable giving. Frank was predeceased by his older sister Louise Aline Padberg Souders, MD of Rock Island, IL, and both parents. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter, Kristen (Denver CO), his son, Frank Jr, his daughter-in-law, Sharon, and his grandson, Frank III (Berkeley Heights, NJ). A celebration of his life will be held at 1PM, Friday April 11, 2014 at the Second Presbyterian Church 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral home and online guestbook will be maintained at www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
My deep sympathy to Helen, the perfect person to accompany Frank's long journey through life.
I was so sorry to hear of your husbands death,what a full life he led.I remember you very warmly from the days when I first arrived in Chicago over 2o years ago.There cannot be many people who have celebrated 71 years of marriage.There will be many memories to cherish which will help you through this difficult time.Love Gabrielle and Oliver Leigh-Wood
I am so sorry to hear the news of your husband.
I certainly remember him from various occasions
we attended at IWA functions in Chicago, but after reading all the condolences,think I now have some knowledge of this remarkable man.
My condolences to you Helen and your dear family.
Gloria (Nichele-Rosenthal) IWA
The President, Staff and Faculty of
Wentworth Military Academy
I am so sorry that I was out of town when you lost your father and had the service. I remember sitting near them at their 70th wedding anniversary. I would have been at the service. Please know I am thinking of you and all of your family. What an accomplished and wonderful man he was.
Barbara Nowlin
I was saddened to hear of Dr Padberg's passing. He was born during the great 1918 flu epidemic in my hometown of Canton (Population-650) in Northwestern Oklahoma. I remember my mother telling me that he was our paperboy in the early 30's before I was born.
I have in my possesion a photo of the Canton Municipal Band in 1928 when they were invited to play on the new radio station, KCRC, in Enid, Oklahoma, some 60 miles away. That was a big deal in those days of early radio, and Enid was 60 miles away. So it represented a significant challenge to travel those 120 miles on gravel and dirt roads in their Model T vin-
tage cars at the blazing speed of 35 mph---sometimes.
The 26 or so members of the band included my father,NCK Sr who played the trumpet and sang "The Rosary". 16 year old Louise Padberg played the clarinet and a 15 year old cousin, Elder Padberg, who lived with them, played the saxo-
phone. All three of those Padbergs became physicians. My Father sang "The Rosary", and Frank sang "Sonny Boy". Thus, Franks singing ability was recognized at an early age as documented by this photograph when he was 10 years old! . Some 45 years later in about 1974, I was inducted into the American College of Surgeons in Miami. At that time Frank was working for the ACS and was in charge of their Fellowship
program. He made a special effort to locate and greet me and my parents. We were all greatly impressed that he would remember us. At that meeting, instead of delivering "The Daily Oklahoman" newspaper to my parents, he delivered to me my American College of Surgeons Fellowship Certificate!
Some 30 years later I saw his name on a list of CHS alumni who planned to attend our highschools biennial reunion. I was prepared to deliver a somewhat eloquent speech outlining his career so that other Alums could appreciate just how prominent one of their fellow alums had become. Alas---he became ill and could not attend. I had so looked forward to our meeting again, but it was not to be.
Incidentally, I also have high school class photos of Louise (1929), Elder, 1930, and Frank(1935) as well as my class(1955). My class was the biggest---with 19 members, compared to 14 in his class and 12 in each of the other two Padbergs' classes.
Losing one's Dad, no matter at what age, reorients one's universe. Your Dad left some illustrious footsteps to follow which you have done well, indeed. He must have been very proud of you and your family. My sympathies to all.
From the ladles of Dorothy Vernon, Chapter DBE in Illinois.
Please know that you have my heartfelt sympathy at this difficult time.
Frank's cheery smile and hearty laugh will be missed.
My parents, Helen and Stan Sowa, went to many social engagements with Frank and Helen and I have fond memories of vising their lovely home in Little Rock and being guests at their country club.
Sending you my love and prayers,
Meg Nagel
Paul Malarik
I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing. I know how hard it is to lose one's father. Please accept my heartfelt sympathies to you and your family.
Sincerely, Joe Costabile
I am very sorry to hear about your Father. You have our condolences. Your father was an accomplished and special man and physician - now I understand where you got it from.
Mike
Jimmy
I remember that his staff had the pleasure of dancing with him at the ACS Christmas parties - he was a good dancer. Most of all, he was a great boss, wonderful person and he will be missed.
Rest in peace.
It was always fun to hear Dr Frank Bauer Sr tell Dr Padbrg how fashionable his beautiful Sports Coats were. He was a spectacular dresser!!
He was respected by us all and was a great Neurosurgeon. He made a super contibution to medicine in AR.
It was my privelege to have been associated with Frank.
My condolances to you'all.
James R. Rasch,M.D.
He lived a wonderful and full life and will be greatly missed to all those he left behind
With Sympathy
Alice & Louie Allred
Gwen
He was intelligent and correct in his diagnosis. Years later, Dr. Frederick Boop repaired my back at LeBonheur Childrens Hospital. The surgeon who saw me at Semmes Murphy Clinic, and who was over Dr. Boop, was also a resident under Dr. Padberg many years ago. Dr. Alex Stanford, a brilliant surgeon! He told me that he had decided to become a neurosurgeon because of Dr. Padberg's influence on his medical career. Dr. Stanford passed away of a malignancy a few years ago.
What an amazing turn of events.. life surely makes a full circle, and God truly has had His hand on me all these years.
God bless your family! Dr. Padberg will always be remembered with fondness to a little girl who grew up to survive and tell this story!
Sincerely,
Donna J. Carter/Carley