Herbert Greenlee, Md

Herbert B. Greenlee, MD, 93, of Caledonia passed away peacefully Friday, December 11, 2020, in Rockford, Illinois.

Herbert Breckenridge Greenlee was born September 6, 1927, in Rockford, Illinois, to Harvey James Greenlee and Abbie Annetta (McCathran) Greenlee. A member of the close-knit Scottish community centered around Caledonia and Argyle, Illinois, he grew up on the McEachran Homestead family farm on Wyman School Road, outside of Caledonia. An only child, but with many cousins, he attended the one room school just down the road, which educated a total of about six to ten students at a time in first through eighth grade. Harlem high school, which he later attended, was a little larger.

Leaving the farm, Herb enrolled at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1947. An avid singer, he joined the college choir. From his vantage point in the tenor section, a young soprano positioned directly in front of him caught his eye. It was Shirley Claire Rurik, a city girl from Chicago. Despite this distraction, Herb earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951.

Although he had initially entertained becoming a Presbyterian pastor, Herb changed course and decided that medicine was his calling. He attended the University of Chicago Medical School from 1951 to 1955, earning his M.D. Several days after graduation, on June 12, 1955, he married Shirley.

Apparently not yet having his fill of Hyde Park, Herb spent the next seven years as intern, resident, chief resident, and fellow in surgery at the University of Chicago, completing his training in 1962.

On to Virginia, where Herb served as a captain in the U.S. Army, stationed at DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir from 1962 to 1964, receiving the Army Commendation Medal.

From 1957 to 1964, while juggling the demands of training and a budding surgical career, Herb and Shirley brought four children into the world, Herb Jr., Bill, Ken, and Anne.

After several positions in Illinois and Wisconsin, in 1967 Herb settled in at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois, and the adjacent newly opened campus of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. By 1972, he was the Chief of the Surgical Service at Hines and was Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery at Loyola. He was proud to be an educator and mentor to hundreds of medical students, surgical residents and fellows. He was awarded the Stritch Medal in 1985, a career achievement award presented to one doctor each year at Loyola. Throughout his career he authored over 100 scholarly publications, as well as a book, Surgery of the Small and Large Intestine - A Handbook of Operative Surgery. He was a member of, and held leadership roles in numerous local, regional, and national medical and surgical societies.

During the same period, the family settled into their home on Keystone Ave. in River Forest, Illinois, and into their church and school home at Grace Lutheran Church and School in River Forest. Reminiscent of their days at Beloit, Herb and Shirley sang in the choir together at Grace for many years.

In 1991, Herb developed stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma, right about the time that Shirley suffered a recurrence of her colon cancer. They were on chemotherapy at the same time, alternating cycles so they could take care of each other. Herb won his battle. Sadly, Shirley lost hers in 1992 at age 62.

About this time, Herb was transitioning into retirement. He had always wanted to return to the home farm. He immediately set about fixing the place up. He did a complete "This Old House" type renovation of the farmhouse and cleaned up and painted the out-buildings. He planted flower and vegetable gardens. Herb also rejoined his home church, the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church of Argyle, where he was a tenor in the choir until he was no longer able.

Always looking for the next project, he decided to start a winery – McEachran Homestead – in 2009. He rehabbed the barn, planted a vineyard, bought fermenting and storage tanks, hired a winemaker and staff, and it was off and running. Although initially a money pit, Herb genuinely enjoyed the hustle and bustle, and took pride in the people and interest this venture brought to the farm. The winery continues on, has developed a strong following, and is now holding its own.

Herb genuinely loved his family and his farm. In 2010, his son, Ken, decided to try out life in the country, and settled in with Herb at the farm. Until the autumn of 2020, Herb would ride around in his electric cart, surveying his estate. Ken kept a caring eye on him, making sure he didn’t get into too much trouble. If he disappeared in his cart for too long, Ken would go looking for him, to make sure he wasn’t in a ditch or had a drained battery. Ken helped maintain the household, and was always there after a fall, or during a drop in blood sugar.

In November, Herb’s age and his many medical conditions were catching up with him, resulting in a couple of trips to the hospital. It looked like he might rebound again, but it was all too much this time. Herb died peacefully on December 11, 2020, at the age of 93.

He is greatly missed.

Herb is survived by son, Herbert (Qizhong) Greenlee, Jr., and grandson, Etienne; son, William (Susan) Greenlee, and grandchildren, Sarah and William C.; son, Kenneth Greenlee; daughter, Anne (Brian) Pugliese, and grandchildren, Payton and Catherine. He was predeceased by wife, Shirley.

Private family services will be held with burial in Argyle Scottish Cemetery, Caledonia. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., Loves Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to:

The Shirley Rurik Greenlee Memorial Library Fund at Beloit College • www.beloit.edu/giving/ • Email: gift@beloit.edu • 800-331-4943

Willow Creek Presbyterian Church of Argyle • https://willowcreekpc.org/ • 815-885-3455

Any other cause or charity that is near and dear to your heart, and that you feel will honor Herbert’s memory.