Dr. Joseph James Tyrrell

Dr. Joseph James Tyrrell, born to Thomas Carroll Tyrrell and Mary Bridget Kelly Tyrrell on March 28th 1926 in Muncie, Indiana passed away April 25, 2009. He is survived by his loving friend Rosemary Block, his nine children (with deceased wife Katie Heffernan Tyrrell): Bridget (Kent) Walsh, Virginia (Ron) Railson , Kathleen, Father Joe (St Patrick’s Cathedral NY), Mary Jo (Rick) Kucera, Marguerite, Sallie (Ricky) Surman, Dan, and Neal (Carolyn Keiper), brother Bill (Ruth) Tyrrell, brother and sisters –in- law Dan (Betty) Heffernan, Mary Ellen McFarlin and Dorothy Heffernan; seven grand children and countless nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother Thomas C. (Sallie) Tyrrell, and sisters Virginia (Bill) Church and Mary Alice (Vince) Mogle. Dr. Joe, as most called him, touched many a life in his 53 years as a practicing physician. Having completed his Bachelor of Science Degree at Ball State University (where he also played varsity football) he followed in the footsteps of his oldest brother Tom and embarked on a life of serving people through the practice of medicine. He headed to the big city of Chicago to complete his medical training at Loyola University, internship at Cook County and then served his country at the Naval Base in Oakland California during the Korean War. After returning to Chicago he completed his surgical residency at the West Side VA in Chicago. Dr. Joe joined his brother and sister in law Drs. Tom and Sallie Tyrrell at the Tyrrell Clinic in Calumet City. Although he trained as a surgeon, physicians did it all back then, from delivering babies, treating colds, casting fractures, removing hot gall bladders to making house calls and caring for the elderly in their final days. He always had his doctor bag in his car ready to go. Many a family remembers him boiling his glass syringes and needles on the stove for the obligatory 12 minutes prior to administering medicine to a sick patient at home. He had a most remarkable and caring bed side manner. He was the sports team doctor for TF North, Chief of Surgery at St Margaret’s Hospital, served on staff at Our Lady of Mercy, headed the breast cancer awareness screening program on the south side and was a member of the Lake County Medical Society and served on countless committees. Remarkably he continued to practice medicine right through his 80th birthday. Somehow he found the time to be a loving husband and devoted dad to nine children. Wednesdays were his day off (at least after rounds and emergency surgeries) and he always spent them with his family. Dr. Joe commonly loaded his children, and usually half of the neighborhood, into the car for an afternoon at the nature center, the dunes, a museum or for a weekend get a way camping trip or long bike trips (he was an avid cyclist). He loved to travel, ski, golf, play bridge and dance but most of all he loved to read and ride his bike. . He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Whiting American Lesion Post 80 and was a great supporter of Catholic Education as well as many other charitable organizations. The viewing will be held at Kish Funeral Home 10000 Calumet Ave. (next to Fitness Pointe) Munster, IN 46321 (219)924-3333 on Sunday April 26, 2009 4:00pm to 7:00 pm and Monday April 27, 2009 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral services will follow Tuesday morning at 10:00am. at Saint Maria Goretti Church 500 Northgate Dr, Dyer, IN 46311. He will be laid to rest at St. John – St. Joseph Cemetery Hammond, IN at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Hospice of the Calumet Area, Riley Hospice Residence, American Cancer Society, or Catholic Charities.