William C. Humphrey, MD

Bill was born in Harpster, Ohio, on March 31, 1933 and attended Kenyon College and the University of Cincinnati Medical School. He had a residency and internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital and then moved to the Upper Peninsula in 1962.

Bill was always known as a gentleman who was a good listener, an avid reader, and who was fiercely independent. He’ll be fondly remembered for his patience and generosity. Bill enjoyed fly fishing and became an expert at tying flies. For several years, he maintained a private pilot license, and served as a 3rd Class Aviation Medical Examiner for the FAA. He also enjoyed making pottery and gardening, and was an excellent woodworker who made a great deal of furniture for his home and for the family camp on Lake George in Baraga County. Bill also enjoyed cooking and traveling with his wife Jean. For many years, they spent three weeks each spring and fall in the Canadian wilderness at a remote cabin in Ontario, where they would fish and enjoy the solitude and peace of the north woods. One of their fondest memories was a trip to Greece. Bill also was a certified scuba diver. Bill and Jean were avid tennis players and cross-country skiers. Bill participated in many ski marathons over the years. More recently, he honed his skills as a Duplicate Bridge player, forming many good friendships along the way.

He began his general practice in Surgery and Obstetrics in Negaunee and worked at Bell Hospital in Ishpeming and the former St. Mary’s and St. Luke’s hospitals in Marquette. He became the first diplomat of the American Academy of Family Practice at Bell Hospital and was instrumental in establishing the Family Practice Residency Program in Marquette. Bill was an active preceptor in the Michigan State Medical Society Program, helping to train many medical students. Dr. Humphrey had many professional accomplishments, including serving as Chief of Staff at Bell Hospital, Secretary/Treasurer of the Marquette/Alger Medical Society, Medical Director of two nursing homes, and instructor in the Advanced Trauma Life Support Program. He practiced medicine in Marquette County for 52 years before retiring in 2014. Even after his retirement, Bill stayed abreast of current medical practices and enjoyed reading medical journals and discussing modern treatments with colleagues, especially his longtime partners Dr. Michael Grossman, Dr. Wayne Carlson, and Dr. Hilary Metcalf.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Jean Bingham Humphrey; his parents, William and Jane Humphrey; his sister, Anne Zook; his beloved son, Charles Humphrey; and his grandchild, Corrin Humphrey.

Surviving are his three children: Jane Humphrey, William (Ellen) Humphrey, and Elizabeth Humphrey; his three step-children: Walter Karl Hansen, Helen (Michael) Grossman, and Amy Hansen; his 14 grandchildren: Veronica (Matthew) Cinquegrani, David Tobar, Maria (Nicholas) Michl, Forrest Humphrey, Elizabeth Tobar, Wesley (Hope) Humphrey, Andrea Humphrey, Sarah (Per) Oloffson-Hansen, Erik (Karin) Hansen, Henry Hansen, Benjamin (Beth) Grossman, Rachael Grossman, Riley McCorkell, Emily (Anthony) Yanarella; and 12 great-grandchildren: Lia Teresi Tobar, Isabella Cinquegrani, Magdalena Cinquegrani, River Michl, Viviann Rose Michl, Artemis Hansen, Bellatrix Hansen, Walter Elias Olof Hansen, Oscar Olof Hansen, August Hansen, Harlan Yanarella, and Louis Hansen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Carp River Gardens, 73 Heritage Drive, Negaunee, MI, from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Monday, September 6, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) at https://upaws.org, Trillium Hospice House at https://trilliumhospicehou se.org or the American Society of Suicide Prevention at https://suicidepreventionl ifeline.org.

Dr. Humphrey’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com.