BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — John Henry Noble, M.D., 89, of Black River Falls, died Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis.
He was born Dec. 25, 1923, in Shanghai, China, to James Bowen Noble Sr. and Harriet Edna Thomas Noble. His family returned to Black River Falls in 1925. He graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1941 and attended Springfield Junior College in Springfield, Ill., from 1941-43. He joined the U.S. Army in June 1943 and served in the U.S. during World War II until June 1945. He attended the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago from 1944-47, earning a degree of doctor of medicine. He did his internship and residency at Augustana Hospital in Chicago from 1947-49. He remained a licensed physician until his death.
On June 21, 1947, he married Rosemary Ellen Bellar in Chicago.
Dr. Noble worked in general medical practice in Graceville and Browns Valley, Minn., and in Amery, Wis., from 1949-51. He joined the Krohn Clinic in Black River Falls in 1951. He returned to service in the U.S. Army for 18 months from January 1953 to August 1954 as a physician at the 8th Army Headquarters Dispensary in Seoul. After retirement from the Krohn Clinic in 1990 he practiced medicine part time at the Ho Chunk Health Care Center in Black River Falls from 1993-2003. Dr. Noble was Jackson County coroner from 1955-65 and a senior airman medical examiner from 1964-94.
Dr. Noble was a very active person with many varied interests. He became a private pilot in 1962 and made trips around the country in his small aircraft. He continued to fly locally until recently. He was an avid downhill skier for many years, travelling to northern Wisconsin and Colorado for ski holidays with his family. He enjoyed spending time at his cabin at Levis Creek on the Black River. The creek is named after his great grandfather John Levis. He loved to travel and learn about new places and travelled throughout the country as well as the world. One of his favorite trips was to China in 1997. He was a beekeeper, maintaining a few hives for many years. He enjoyed hunting and continued to deer hunt until recently. He belonged to the VFW, American Legion, Rotary, Masons, Shrine, Jackson County Bird Club, Friends of the Black River and Flying Physicians Association.
Dr. Noble is remembered by many in the area as an excellent family doctor. He delivered the babies of babies he had delivered by the end of his long practice in Black River Falls. He had a very keen mind, amazing memory and grasp of information and a wry sense of humor. He cared deeply about his patients. He was very hardworking and conscientious about doing things well, with attention to detail. This included repair jobs around the house as well as patient care. He had great love of all aspects of life: people and their stories, nature, history and animals. He embraced technology in his later years and especially enjoyed being on the computer, doing research or communicating with friends and family. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 66 years, Rosemary, and his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Rosemary; sister Jahala Ford of Skull Valley, Ariz.; two sons, James of Brule, Wis., and John Jr. (Mary Carlson) of Marinette, Wis.; one daughter, Jane Noble of Madison, Wis.; grandsons Joshua Noble and Matthew Noble of Portland, Ore.; and grandson Nathan Regina (Amanda Betts) of Appleton, Wis
He was preceded in death by brothers James and David Noble and a sister, Patricia Scofield.
A memorial gathering is planned for later in the summer. His ashes will be interred at Riverside Cemetery in Black River Falls in the Noble plot.
“And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three;
“But the greatest of these is charity.”
— 1 Corinthians 13
From "The Chronicle" July 3, 2013