Fred W. Dahling's Obituary
Fred W. Dahling MD, 91, of New Haven, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at StoryPoint Fort Wayne West. Born July 1, 1931, Fred W. Dahling MD was the son of the late Dr. Clemons Waldemar and Frances (Bardonner) Dahling.
Fred graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 1949 and from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1956. He was a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corp serving in Stuttgart Germany from 1957-1960.
He was a New Haven, IN primary-care physician specializing in family medicine. He retired from private practice on December 31, 1996.
Fred was a loving, caring and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He never knew a stranger. He was a friend to all. Together with his father he served the families in his community for a span of close to sixty years. Fred quietly led by example and instilled in his family the importance of giving and supporting the things that are important. He dedicated his medical practice to treating and caring for his patients' needs; often traveling to their homes. He responded with kindness and concern to their phone calls at all hours of the day and night, carrying out his career's purpose: to care for the sick. As a physician and healer, he carried out selfless acts every single day.
As a life member of Emanuel Lutheran Church of New Haven, Fred was appointed to the Central Lutheran School Board numerous years, also serving as chairman. He was a member of the Concordia Educational Foundation which began in 1959 by Concordia Lutheran High School 1948 and 1949 graduates.
Community health was one of his passions. Fred volunteered at the Neighborhood Health Clinic; was appointed by Governor Bayh to serve on the Commission for a Drug Free Indiana; and was instrumental in expanding the Indiana University medical school satellite program, with the opening of the Fort Wayne campus. He received the Distinguished Hoosier Award from Governor Kernan in June 2004.
Fred served as president of the Indiana State Medical Association in 1989 and was a member of the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians, the Indiana State Medical Society and the Fort Wayne Medical Society where he held numerous elected and appointment positions. He received the Indiana University School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990, the IIUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2005, and was inducted into the Concordia Lutheran High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020 after serving as a volunteer team physician for over 40 years.
An ardent supporter of Indiana University athletics, he was a member of the Varsity Club's Hoosier Hundred and was a season ticket holder for football and basketball for over fifty years. Beginning in 1940 he has the unique distinction; having attended every NCAA Division 1 final four NCAA basketball tournament in which the Hoosiers were participants.
He is survived his wife of 67 years, Suzanne E. (Foelber) Dahling; children, Rev. Daniel (Tamara) Dahling of New Haven, Mary (Steve) Easterday of Roanoke, Christina (Shahrom) Kiani of Onolaska, WI, Kathryn (Larry) Barnard of Fort Wayne, and Ruth (Troy) Roberts of Naperville; sister, Carolyn Kroeger of Sun Lakes, AZ; and grandchildren, Joel (Anna Neal) Miller, Henry Dahling, Lydia (Gabor) Cseh Dahling, Rosemary (Vincent) Calabro, Alexandra (Trent) Wilburn, Maryfrances (Scott) Siegel, Victoria Barnard, Nicole Roberts, Derek Roberts, Yasmine Kiani, and Arman Kiani. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Carl William Dahling DVM.
Funeral service is 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, 2023, at Harper's Community Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven with visitation two hours prior. Burial in Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to Central Lutheran School Endowment Fund, Concordia Lutheran High School Education Foundation, or the Indiana University Foundation to benefit the IU School of Medicine, Fort Wayne Campus. For online condolences please visit Harperfuneralhome.com.
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