Dr. Walter "Bill" Ervin Reckling Jr.

Dr. Walter Ervin Reckling, M.D.

A memorial service for Dr. Walter Ervin Reckling, M.D., 69, will be held Wednesday, April 4, 10:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Cheyenne. Dr. Reckling died March 31, 2001, in Cheyenne. Walter (Bill) Reckling was born September 17, 1931 in Lusk, the son of Dr. Walter Ervin and Jean Brouder Reckling. He was active in music and athletics throughout his youth and was valedictorian of his 1948 high school graduating class. He pursued pre-medical studies at the University of Wyoming, where he was a member of the concert and marching bands and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His academics honors included Phi Beta Kappa and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He received a B.S. with honor in 1952.

He received a medical degree from the University of Rochester (New York) School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1956, interned at Denver General Hospital, and completed a residency in the University of Colorado surgical program in 1961. During his residency he married Nancy Winings, a nurse, November 28, 1958, in Decatur, Illinois. Following his residency he served two years in the Air Force as surgeon-in-chief at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Dr. Reckling practiced general surgery for 33 years in Cheyenne, where he and Nancy raised their three children: Lori, a retired marriage and family therapist; Carlton, an orthopedic surgeon; and John, an internal medicine specialist.

The deceased, who retired in 1996, was a dedicated medical practitioner. He was a Fellow of American College of Surgeons, and was a member of the Wyoming Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He served on and was chairman of many committees at both DePaul and Memorial hospitals in Cheyenne. Dr. Reckling also pursued several outside interests. He played clarinet in many Cheyenne orchestral and woodwind ensembles, raised a large and varied vegetable garden each summer, made wine, skied and mountain biked with his family, and attended classical music events around the country.

Dr. Reckling was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Lori Reckling Longbottom of Omaha, Neb.; sons W. Carlton Reckling, M.D. of Cheyenne and John F. Reckling, MD of Riverton; sister Velma Jean Bales of Laramie; and brother Frederick W. Reckling, MD of Ft. Collins, Colo. Also surviving are six grandchildren, five nieces and one nephew.

Donations may be sent to the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (710 Lions Park Dr., Cheyenne, WY 82001) in care of the Walter E. Reckling Memorial Garden.

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