John M. Irvin, age 90, died Thursday, November 3, 2011 at home. He was born on June 12, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the son of Robert Roy and Ester "Dolly" (Brownlee) Irvin. John attended Bloomfield New Jersey, elementary and high school, graduated there in 1939, attended Rutgers University from 1939 to 1941 and received his Bachelors of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1943. He graduated as an MD from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1945. Scholastic awards included Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin and AOA from the UW medical school. His medical training included an internship from 1945 to 1946 at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, Illinois; service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1946 to 1948 with an honorable discharge as a captain in 1948. He took his residency in internal medicine at Hines Hines, Illinois from 1948 to 1951. He married Virginia Francis Van de Sand on September 15, 1945 in Fulton, IL.

John cared deeply for his patients, the Monroe medical community, and the practice of medicine. He practiced internal medicine in Monroe from 1951 to 1990, first joining the practice of Drs Ruhlman and Baumle located on the square above the Headquarters Tavern; the practice eventually became the Monroe Medical Center. Dr. Irvin was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, past president of the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, associate clinical professor of medicine for the University of Wisconsin Medical School, past president of the St. Clair Hospital medical staff, past president of the Green County Medical Society, and past president of Wisconsin Senior Physicians. As a boy and teenager he was an active member of the boy scouts and an avid fisherman. Playing acoustic guitar was a life-long passion. He was a member of the Monroe Country Club and was a founding member and past president of the Alpine Curling Club. John was also a charter member and past president of the Monroe Lions Club.

John leaves behind a niece, six grandchildren, and his children Charles Gerard (Lauren) Irvin of Colchester, VT, Sandra Louise Irvin of Tampa, FL, Diana Gwen (Sidney Murphree) Irvin of Louisville, KY, Carol Virginia (Steve Daly) Irvin of Greenfield, NH; and Robert Bruce (Jill) Irvin of Portland, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Howard Brownlee Irvin.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2011 at the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home 1455 Mansion Drive and 18th Avenue in Monroe with Reverend Kay Krebs officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Monroe Hospice or the Lion's Club Leader Dog program.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Monroe Hospice and Sandra Cano for caring for our father and allowing him to die with grace and dignity.