Adam Reischer

KINGSFORD - Adam Reischer, 95, of 1301 Woodward Ave. in Kingsford, and more recently of Victorian Pines in Iron Mountain, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, at the V.A. Medical Center in Iron Mountain. He was a member of the Anshe Knesseth Congregation. Dr. Reischer was a V.A. urologist and surgeon from 1946 to 1965 in Dwight, Ill., and from 1965 to 1979 in Iron Mountain He was born on Aug. 24, 1911, the son of Regina Stauber Reischer and Bernard Reischer, near what was then Lemberg, Poland. In 1914, the Reischer family moved to Vienna, Austria and lived on the Hahngasse. Adam was an excellent student, and graduated from the University of Vienna and its medical school with diplomas in medicine and dentistry. He was then in practice with an uncle in Vienna. When he took a class in Italian language and culture, a mutual friend introduced him to another student, Rosi Schwarzmantel. When the Nazis invaded Austria in 1938 and the open persecution of Jews began, Adam's friends convinced him to obtain an immigration quota number from the American embassy. Later that year, Rosi helped him flee to England, and they were married in London on Feb. 28, 1939. Adam arrived alone in the U.S. in 1940. When the U.S. went to war in 1941, he could not be drafted because he was a physician, and could not attend officer training because he was not a citizen, so he enlisted in the Army as a private. He was discharged with pneumonia, obtained U.S. citizenship, and re-enlisted and was promoted to captain, serving the V.A. hospital in Dwight, Ill. In 1944, Rosi joined him in the U.S. After the war, Adam continued his career with the V.A. Dr. Reischer was a member of the American Urological Association and the American Medical Association. In the course of his work at the VAMC, he mentored a young physician's assistant, A.J. Kent. Eventually, A.J. and his family became close friends with the Reischers. Adam's favorite hobby was fishing, which he enjoyed on evenings and weekends in the U.P. as well as on family trips to fishing holes across the U.S. He was a member of Congregation Beth Emeth, the Kingsford Lions Club, and the Great Books Group of Iron Mountain/Kingsford. He is survived and mourned by his daughter and son-in-law, Jenny R. and Robert J. Redfern of Morgan Hill, Calif.; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Jeremy D. Redfern and Karen J. Coates, granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Joanna L. Redfern-Rinck and Thomas J. Rinck of Albuquerque, N.M. and the extended Redfern family. Adam Reischer was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Schwarzmantel Reischer and his sister, Micheline Reischer Polay. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain. The funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Dr. Michael Zevitz will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the U.P. Library for the Blind in Marquette or the Dickinson County Cancer Care Unit. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Dr. Adam Reischer online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home with the funeral arrangements.

Adam Reischer

February 10, 1912 - February 10, 2007