Austin Mccarthy

Dr. Austin M. "Mac" McCarthy, age 90, of Willmar, died Wednesday, June 18, at his home in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Thursday, June 26, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar with Fr. Steve Verhelst officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar.

Visitation will be 4:44 - 8 PM Wednesday, June 25, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar with a 4:44 PM Parish Prayer Service and an 8 PM Knights of Columbus Rosary. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Dr. A.M. and Muriel McCarthy Scholarship Fund or the St. Mary's Foundation.

Mac was born on April 9, 1918, in Watkins, Minnesota, the son of Michael and Anna (Baden) McCarthy. He grew up in Watkins, graduated from Litchfield High School in 1934, St. John's University in 1938 and the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1942. On October 22, 1943, Mac was united in marriage to Muriel J. Simstad. He served his internship and residency at Minneapolis General Hospital. Mac served as a Lt. J.G. in the U.S. Naval Medical Corps during World War II aboard the Hospital ship, U.S.S. Relief AH-1. He helped treat and evacuate more than 3,000 wounded Americans from Okinawa, Philippines and the China Sea. Following his discharge in 1946, he completed his surgery residency at Minneapolis General Hospital and then moved to Willmar in 1948 to begin his medical practice as the first resident trained surgeon in the Willmar area. Mac along with Dr. Roger "Mike" Michels and Dr. Willard "Pete" Peterson was instrumental in forming the original Willmar Clinic, which has now evolved into the Affiliated Community Medical Centers with 125 providers and nearly 1000 employees. He helped develop the orthopedic department in Willmar and was an active staff member at five area hospitals in addition to Rice Memorial Hospital. Mac served as volunteer attendant physician at most high school athletic events in Willmar to ensure that any injured player would receive prompt medical attention. Mac was a member of the Minnesota State Board of Medical Examiners, Minnesota Medical Association on sports medicine. He was appointed to be a Great Northern Railroad Surgeon and was president of the Great Northern Surgeons Group. Mac spent his entire medical career of 38 years at the Willmar Medical Center, retiring in 1986. He was the Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery for many years at Rice Memorial Hospital. He also gave lectures and papers at medical meetings. Mac received numerous professional awards and recognitions, including the Harold S. Diehl award presented by the Minnesota Alumni Society in 1989 for outstanding contributions to the U of M Medical School, the university, the Willmar community and his family. On April 10, 2008, Mac received the St. John's University Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a member of the Church of St. Mary and the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel of Willmar; six daughters, Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow of Willmar, Patty (and Robert) McCarthy Schwarzkopf of Santa Maria, CA., Julie (and Larry) McCarthy Napoleon of Van Nuys, CA., Maggie (and Dean) McCarthy Frericks of Rock Springs, WY., Jane (and Jim) McCarthy Urman of Belgrade and Katie (and Eric) McCarthy Ingram of Reno, NV; five grandchildren, Bethany Yarrow (and Sebastian Gross-Ossa), Christopher Yarrow, Chad (and Jackie) Frericks, Shannon (and Aaron) McGhee and Murielle Napoleon; four great grandchildren, Patrick Austin McGhee, Katelyn Mae McGhee, Chad Michael Frericks Jr. and Valentina Ossa, and one sister, Marian Enright of Walnut Creek, CA., besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Mildred McCarthy Ryer and one brother, Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy