Charles William Chastain III, M.D.

Charles William Chastain III, M.D. entered into eternal rest on August 21, 2023, at Primrose Assisted Living Community in Appleton, Wisconsin at the age of 92. Affectionately known as ‘Bill’, ‘Doc’, or his two personal favorites, ‘Dad’ and ‘Papa’, he was born on October 17, 1930, in Plattsburg, Missouri to Charles William II (Billy) and Faith Chastain. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his favorite aunt, Martha, and his son, Edward.

Bill graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1952, continued his education at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1956, and served his country as an officer in the Army. Bill was well known in the community as an exceptional and dedicated physician who practiced medicine with care and compassion. His family remembers the multitude of house calls that Bill made to provide care to his patients. Bill was a family physician with Medical Arts Clinic in Farmington from 1959 to 1977. In 1977, Bill and his family moved to Liberty, Missouri where he assumed the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Kansas City and the Director of the Family Practice Residency Training Program at North Kansas City Memorial Hospital. Upon his return to Farmington in 1979, Bill founded Family Healthcare of Southeast Missouri in Park Hills where he practiced until his first retirement. After listening to all the music he had collected over the years and reading some of the books he heard so much about, Bill returned to practice medicine at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. Upon Bill’s second, and final, retirement in 2015, he and his wife, Joanne, moved to Appleton, Wisconsin.

Bill was a lover of knowledge and a leader in the medical community. Bill served as President and Trustee of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians; Delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Missouri State Medical Association; President of the Mineral Area Medical Society; Chairman of the Commission on Medical Economics of the State Medical Society; and Trustee and Vice Chairman of St. Louis Blue Shield. Bill was instrumental in the affiliation of Bonne Terre Hospital with Christian Hospital in St. Louis which eventually led to the Farmington Community Hospital’s affiliation with BJC.

Bill also had many interests outside of the medical field. He was involved in community plays, mentorship programs, and community betterment. Bill was a devout Catholic and held his faith deeply. Bill enjoyed camping, fly fishing, swimming, exploring the outdoors and cutting trails on the family farms, hosting large trail rides, gardening, and found mowing to be meditative. Bill loved animals, politics, jokes, good food, fine wine, cold beer, and good company. He also enjoyed drafting building plans. Bill loved the thrill of playing bridge and was involved in many bridge groups throughout the years.

Bill is survived by his wife, Joanne; his sister, Mary Faith Henderson of Galveston, Texas; his children, Charlie (Dorothy) Chastain of Farmington, Jane (Jared) Troutner of Houston, Texas, John Chastain and fiancé Pam Hull of Appleton, Wisconsin, Katie (Rod) Rhodes of Farmington, Carrie (Mark) Riedi of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Chelsea (Matt) Watkins of Farmington, and “extra daughter” Katie (Pat) Williams of Imperial. Bill’s grandchildren include Charles William Chastain V, Derrek Chastain, Colton Chastain, Matt (Maggie) Rhodes, Ashley Rhodes (fiancé Krishna), Alex Rhodes (fiancé Lauren), Parker Troutner, Sarah (Dustin) Perry, Curtis Chastain (fiancé Kate), Christopher (Abbie) Chastain, John (Kaitlynn) Northcutt, Faith Birdsong, Quinn Watkins and six great grandchildren, John, Henry and Kadin Northcutt, Ryleigh and Blakely Perry, and Henry Rhodes. A seventh great granddaughter is due in January. Bill is also survived by his nieces, nephew and Joanne’s children, Michael (Amber) Burt, Cheri (Mark) Smith, Mark (Karen) Burt, Brad Burt and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held 1-4 p.m. Saturday October 28, 2023, at St. Francois County Country Club, 4901 Hillsboro Road in Farmington. Funeral services were held September 13, 2023, in Appleton, Wisconsin, under the direction of Wichmann Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Parkland Health Center Foundation at https://www.parklandhealthcenter.org/foundation or charity of your choice.