David Berckmueller Obituary

David E. Berckmueller M.D.

Dec 2, 1939 - Oct 13, 2023

Milan

David Edward "Dave" Berckmueller, M.D., 83, died peacefully Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at his Milan home.

Dave was born in New Jersey to Herb and Emily Berckmueller, who preceded him in death. Dave was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and always considered himself a Hoosier. He attended Indiana University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and met the love of his life, Martha Coral Peverly, a nursing student and fellow Hoosier from Perrysville. They were married in 1964 in Gessie, Indiana, and celebrated their 59th anniversary this past June. Dave earned his M.D. in 1965, intending to go directly into ophthalmology. Uncle Sam had a different plan and he was drafted into U.S. Navy with a deaf left ear and shipped off to Yokosuka, Japan. In the shadow of Mt. Fuji, Dave and Martha immersed themselves in the Japanese culture which stayed with them long after his tour was complete. He finished his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and became a member of American Board of Ophthalmology in 1973. That same year, Dave and his family settled in Milan. They bought a ruin of a house, woodchucks and all, and in time created a unique Victorian home for their family. A surgical practice was set up in Tiffin, where for 33 years, Dave and Martha helped people see. They did all of it together. Dave had privileges at Tiffin Mercy Hospital and served as President of the medical staff in 2001.

Dave enjoyed old things and had a soft spot for antique automobiles and trains. Pilgrimages with his family to the Hershey Swap Meet with its acres of cars rarely came home empty handed. He was known for his dark humor and appreciated the work of Gary Larson and Edward Gorey. He was a fan of mystery novels, history of many sorts, and a good drive. His curiosity ranged as far as the eye could see. He understood the history of Milan and went out of his way to preserve its image. Sometimes this included pruning a wayward tree branch and other times involved reimagining the local Historical Museum. He was on the board of Milan Museum and life-time member of the Thomas Edison Birthplace. The poem "Afterwards" by Thomas Hardy describes him well. He always wanted to leave things a little better than they were. And he did.

He is survived by his wife, Martha; sons, Hugh (Janet) of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Fritz (Bethany) of Milan; grandchildren, Kurt, Greta, Max, Ava, Liesl, George, Elsa, Oscar, August, Otto, and Ingrid; and sister, Sue Katz of East Hampton, New York.

Visitation for friends will be 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1 South Main St., Milan. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, followed by Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Milan, with Father Anthony Recker presiding. Burial will follow at St. Anthony's Cemetery, Milan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 145 Center St., Milan, Ohio, 44846, or ProMedica Hospice, 907 West State Street, Fremont, Ohio, 43420.