John Soelling Obituary


JOHN L. SOELLING
July 4, 1922 ˜ March 23, 2019

John L. Soelling died March 23, 2019, at the age of 96, in Vancouver, WA. Known to most as Dr. Soelling, he practiced medicine for 67 years, primarily in Vancouver.
John attended Columbia University, then New York Medical College, and entered the United States Army upon graduation, at the close of World War II.
While serving in Austria, John met and fell in love with Jewel, an Army nurse, whom he married in 1950. They settled in Vancouver, where John would found the gastroenterology department at the Veterans Administration Hospital and later co-found the Hudson Bay Medical Group, his practice until he retired at 87.
Over his long career, John earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and patients for his unwavering commitment to the medical profession and to his patients.
Throughout his life, John worked for equality and consideration for all, serving on the Vancouver School Board, the Clark County Medical Society and as adjunct faculty at the Oregon Medical School. He and Jewel generously gave time, money, and voice to an extensive group of organizations and causes that they both believed in.
After Jewel died in 1995, John spent the balance of his time with his children: Jonelle, Mark, Christopher, and David; his seven grandchildren, Kirsten, John, Gretchen, Erica, Else, Stefanie, and Brendan; his four great-grandchildren, John, Benjamin, Becker, and Stellan; and his companion, Harriet Wilson.
Dr. Soelling, John, Pop, Grandpa ... his departure has left a great chasm, which we hope to fill with love, kindness, and generosity, just as he did. Please join us in remembering and celebrating his life on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM at the Water Resources Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver.
If you would like to continue John’s legacy of generosity, we encourage you to make a donation to a food bank near you.
Please sign his guest book @ www.columbian.com/obits

Published by The Columbian on May 12, 2019.
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Memories and Condolences
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Very hardworking, honest, really came through for me.

mike hiatt

May 6, 2021

Thanks for being a great Doctor. You helped me in many ways.

mike hiatt

May 19, 2019

A great great person. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Mary Shepard

May 18, 2019

I worked with Dr, Soelling and he was a total delight! I looked forward to working with him and I enjoyed his friendship. He will be very missed.

Linda Dumas

May 17, 2019

Though I didn't have the chance to spend much time with him, I am glad I had the opportunity to meet, however briefly, a man of whom his family has such great respect, admiration and affection. I know he will be missed deeply, and remembered fondly.

Rachel Hultengren

May 17, 2019

Although I only spoke with Dr. Soelling on a couple brief occasions, I was very glad I had the chance to meet him. We spoke some in German, and although I'm quite rusty, he was patient and kind. Our interactions were always in the context of family events with his grand daughter, Erica, and it was clear that he was very proud of her, and enjoyed getting to participate in her life, including meeting us in laws :)

David Hultengren

May 17, 2019

Dr.Soelling was always a joy to work with as a RN and when I was Director of Nurses at Vancouver Memorial Hospital he asked the Administrator, Kenneth Squier and I to choose x number of number of nurses and he would bring x number of Physicians once a month to get away from Hospital and discuss concerns, etc. It worked out very well to bring a better understanding as to what each one did.

Jeanine Bailiff

Coworker

May 13, 2019

Dr. Soelling was a Friend of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He loved good music.

Walter Pistor

May 13, 2019

Dr. Soelling ,a great Doctor. Very kind, caring and gentle.
With caring thoughts, Linda Miller

May 12, 2019

Dr Soelling provided the best care for my Wife. He made her life more livable not only by his knowledge of the intestine but his personal concern for her health. I will never forget that when my wife passed away he took the time to personally call me to give his condolences. Great guy. Duane Whittum

May 12, 2019

Dave was blessed to work with Dr. Soelling in Endo and we were honored to be his friends. We have many fond memories of Christmas parties at his home and him coming to Thanksgiving dinners in ours. We also remember the day at the hospital when we surprised him with a German food potluck and the entire staff including the patient wore bow ties. He was well loved

Dave and Floreen Clark

May 12, 2019

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