Dr. Rock

MADISON - Dr. William Rock, teacher, mentor, father and U.S. Navy veteran, passed away on April 25, 2018. Dr. Rock was an old fashioned doctor, who never stopped making house calls to dying patients and pulling over at car accidents to see if he could help.

As a Chief Resident at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Dr. Rock met an amazing woman and ob/gyn nurse, Joan Cox. Sparks flew and the fire lasted 63 years and beyond. He often said that he couldn't do anything without Joan's support and wisdom. He loved singing and dancing in many of the hundreds of theatrical productions Joan directed over the years, and when he was in the audience, always cheered the loudest.

In 1958, Rock began his career as an internist at the East Madison Clinic. He has been a faculty member at UW Medical School since 1957. Dr. Rock was an amazing listener, who saw his patients as friends. Throughout his over 50 year practice in internal medicine, cardiology and geriatric medicine, Dr. Rock became close with many of his patients, and many generations of families have called Dr. Rock their doctor, counselor and friend.

He grew up in Sterling, Ill. He first fell for Madison when the U.S. Navy sent him to radio school here in 1944. Asked why he was still working into his 80s, he'd say that God had smiled on him through the war, and he felt an obligation to give back. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps until 1961, and as a physician at many VA hospitals through the years.

Dr. Rock is survived by his wife, Joan (Cox); his children, Julie, Patty, Bill (Marcia), John (Kelly), Kathleen, Mike and Maryellen; his grandchildren, Anna, Lucy, Jackson, Wesley and Libby; brothers, Richard (MaryEllen) of Albuquerque and David (Cathy) of Orlando; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary, and his sister, Mary Pat (James), Evansville Ind.

Some of Dr. Rock's philosophies included taking time to sit and listen to people. He could strike up conversation with anyone he met, and remembered even the smallest details about people. His custom of listening to and getting to know his patients was at the core of his entire career. He said that it affords dignity to them.

When Dr. Fred Coleman asked Doc Rock to be part of hospice he was establishing, it was a natural fit. Doc Rock would listen to patients, their families, staff and caregivers at the bedside. He helped countless families become comfortable with the process of dying every step of the way, attending to families at home, at funerals and singing along at Irish wakes.

Dr. Rock was so proud of his seven children and five grandchildren. Along with Joan, he loved teaching them to be good stewards of nature, to enjoy life outdoors swimming in Door County, skiing in the U.P., sailing on Lake Mendota, planting flowers and trees, canoeing, and everything else. He loved spotting a hawk and pointing it out to everyone. He encouraged a love of reading, lifelong learning and service to the community. He taught his kids to work hard, to be honest, to have faith, to be good people. He'd say whatever you do, you've got to have fun. You've got to enjoy what you do.

Dr. Rock's professional appointments included Medical Director, Agrace HospiceCare, Medical Director, Dean Medical Center SC, Vice President, St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center Staff, Chairman, Ethics Committee, St. Mary's Hospital, Medical Director, American Family Insurance Company, Medical Director, Karmenta Nursing Home, Chairman, Medical Records Committee, St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, Chairman, Cardiovascular Laboratory Committee, St. Mary's Hospital, Chairman, Coronary Care Committee, St. Mary's Hospital, Chairman, Physicians Education Committee, Wisconsin Heart Association, Board of Directors, Wisconsin Heart Association, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Volunteer Faculty Member, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Resident Lecturer on Ethics for Family Practice Residents, Director of Staff Education, St. Mary's Hospital, Certified EPIC Trainer, Interviewer Individual Physician Practice Profile Program, University of Wisconsin Continuing Medical Education Department, planned and supervised Weekly Emergency Care Lecture Series, St. Mary's Hospital, Teaching Coordinator, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin and St. Mary's Hospital, Contributing Editor, Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, Medical Director, Hospice Care, Inc., Chairman of St. Mary's Ethics Committee for 40 years and teacher at University of Wisconsin Medical School Dept. of Continuing Education. He also spearheaded fundraising efforts for Hospice with Dr. Paul Carbone and Dean Clinic's Dr. Richard Botham.

The family would like to thank Dr. Al Musa, Nick Boos, Barb Dahlen and the care team at Fresenius Kidney Care, Ann and the care team at Door County Dialysis, Dr. John Phelan, Dr. Douglas Cowgill, Peggy Weber, Sister Georgeann Roudebush, Dr. Bernie Mickie, Dr. Ed Ahrens, William Flesch and family, and the wonderful, caring staff at St. Mary's Hospital. Thanks also to any and all clergy who knew Dr. Rock. Please join us as concelebrants.

He'd want us to go outside and enjoy nature, tend a garden, smile at a stranger, read a book, take a class, visit an old friend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 405 S. Owen Drive, Madison, on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 12 noon. A visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Monday, April 30, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and at church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Rock would love you to consider donations to any of the following organizations he supported: Agrace Hospice Care, your local public library, The Door County Land Trust, The Humane Society of Dane County, The Jacksonport Historical Society or your favorite charity.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434