Dr. William A. LeMire III

Dr. Bill was born on May 6, 1936, in Escanaba to William and Margaret (Halligan) LeMire. He graduated from Escanaba High School in 1954. He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1958. He attended medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago where he graduated in 1962. Dr. Bill married Nancy (Fenlon) LeMire on June 9, 1962, at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Chicago, Ill. They resided in Chicago where he did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 1966, he joined the United States Army as a captain and practiced obstetrics and gynecology at Irwin Army Hospital in Fort Riley, Kansas from 1966-1968. In 1968, he moved back to Escanaba where he began his medical practice at Doctor’s Park. From 1968-1979, Dr. Bill was the only board certified OB/GYN in Delta County. As such, he had the privilege of caring day and night for patients who lived throughout Delta County.

Dr. Bill had a diversified career. He was instrumental in establishing the Upper Peninsula’s Medical Education Program for Michigan State University. He served as an associate professor in that program from 1974-1989. Dr. Bill became involved with Michigan Peer Review and Quality Assurance as an officer in the Professional Standards Review (PRSO) Organization. He was a charter member of the Michigan Professional Review Organization which reviewed Medicare treatment charts for the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Michigan. He has been a Fellow of the American College of OB/GYN since 1969. He was past president of the Delta County Medical Society, past chief of staff at St. Francis Hospital and past chief of all OB/GYN care at St. Francis.

In July 1985, Dr. Bill was recognized for his outstanding service and commitment to The Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation. In 1995, he founded the Welcome Newborns program to address the need to increase immunization rates for newborns. The program — which continues to this day — significantly increased the immunization rates for newborn babies throughout Delta County. In 1997, Dr. Bill was honored by Michigan’s then Governor John Engler for the innovation and success of the Welcome Newborns program. Dr. Bill’s model for the program has been replicated in other counties and states around the country.

In 2009, Dr. Bill and his wife Nancy were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Delta County Community Foundation. Dr. Bill was a past chair of both the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula and of Delta County. He also served on the Bay College Foundation Board. From 1992-2011 Dr. Bill was the manager of his beloved Escanaba Cubs American Legion Baseball team. He initiated and funded the efforts to install lights at the Al Ness Field which launched nighttime Legion baseball in Escanaba for the first time in history. He was a life-long member of the Escanaba Country Club, and a lifetime member of the Elks Club 354.

Dr. Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy, and their six children, William (Liz), Laura, Anne (Brian) Franks, Joseph (Becky), Patrick (Pam), Jimmy (Rebecca); 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also surviving him are his sister, Mary Margo LeMire of Escanaba, and his brother, Tim LeMire of Winfield, Ill.

Dr. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. William A LeMire II and Margaret, as well as his brother, Dr. John R. LeMire.

Dr. Bill was devoted to his family and to his community. He gave back to his community in countless ways including the delivery of over 5,000 babies to Delta County. He leaves an extraordinary legacy to the community and family he loved. He will be dearly missed. Requiescat in pace.

Visitation will be from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, at Crawford Funeral Home in Escanaba. Holy Mass of Christian burial will follow at 5 p.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Delta County Community Foundation.

The family would like to express its sincere gratitude to the entire staff at Christian Park Health Care Center for the loving care they gave to Dr. Bill over the last three months.