By Deborah Larsen
Irwin Carl Schlecte
Irwin Carl Schlecte, known to family and friends by his middle name, Carl, was born in Tawas City, Michigan, on May 3, 1914, the son of Martin and Ida Waak Schlecte. Carl attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where he met and married fellow medical student Eva Lahti in 1938. Drs. Carl and Eva Schlecte received their medical degrees from the University of Michigan in 1940.
In April 1941, Carl left a position at Highland Park General Hospital to move to Rochester, Michigan. He took over the medical practice of Dr. Albert Faulconer, who had recently joined the U.S. Army. Dr. Schlecte’s offices were located in the Rochester National Bank building at Fourth & Main Streets.
Carl received a commission in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in September 1942 and was sent to Billings General Hospital at Fort Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis. His wife, Dr. Eva Schlecte, continued his medical practice in Rochester. Carl spent 27 months overseas in the European Theater. He was first posted for 13 months in North Africa and then spent 14 months at the 114th Station Hospital in Italy. He was discharged from military service in September 1945.
After the war, Dr. Schlecte resumed his family medical practice in Rochester. Drs. Carl and Eva Schlecte retired to Green Valley, Arizona, in 1977.
Dr. Irwin Carl Schlecte died at age 63 on April 20, 1978.