John J Smalley

Dr. John J. Smalley, 76 of La Crosse died at his home on Tuesday, January 8, 2013. The eldest of three children, he was born November 18, 1936 in Chicago, IL to John J. and Katherine T. (Shimkus) Smalley. Jack attended grade school and high school in Chicago, graduating from De La Salle High School in 1954. He then attended St. Marys College in Winona, MN, completing the pre-medical curriculum in 1957. He began medical school at Loyola Universitys Stritch School of Medicine from 1957-58. From December 1958 until September 1961 he served as a corpsman in the United States Army.

Jack returned to medical school in Chicago at the University of Illinois, receiving his doctor of medicine degree in 1964. In 1963 he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the honor medical society. Jacks internship was completed at St. Josephs Hospital, South Bend, IN and he then finished a residency in general surgery at the University of Illinois and West Side VA Hospitals in Chicago, 1965-69. Following this, he served a fellowship in surgical oncology at the same institutions, finishing in 1970. Jack was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1970 and in July of that year joined Drs. Gerard Uhrich and James Murphy in the practice of surgery at the La Crosse Clinic and St. Francis Hospital.

On August 5, 1959 he was married to Mary Louise Combs, the daughter of Larry and Hannah Combs of Bedford, IN in St. Adrians Church, Chicago. Subsequently they lived in Germany while Jack finished his military service; their eldest daughter, Katherine being born there in 1961. Jack counted his family as his greatest of blessings in addition to his faith and profession.

In addition to his wife Marylou he is survived by two daughters; Katherine Smalley of Onalaska, and Jenny (Tom) Fregin of La Crosse; four sons, John (Rana) Smalley of Onalaska, Larry (Sandy) Smalley of Menomonee Falls, WI, Mike (Amy) Smalley of Burnsville, MN and Jim (Sara) Smalley of Marshall, MN; 14 grandchildren; Andy and Matt Fregin of La Crosse, Jack and Allison Smalley of Onalaska, Katie, Anna and Tyler Smalley of Menomonee Falls, WI, Mikayla, Samantha, Erica and R.J. Smalley of Burnsville, MN, Emma, A.J. and Brianna Smalley of Marshall, MN; a brother, James Smalley of Bartlett, IL; along with 12 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Vivian Ginderske and a sister-in-law, Mary Ann Smalley.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 14th at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Rev. David Olson officiating. Entombment with military honors will follow at a later date in Catholic Cemetery. Friends and family may call at the church on Monday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Aquinas Foundation, the Salvation Army of La Crosse or the charity of choice. Jacks family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice in La Crosse and all those who had our Dad in their thoughts and prayers.