Dr. Charles H. Steinmetz

Charles H. Steinmetz was a great doctor with many notable achievements throughout his career. Beyond this distinction, he was a man of compassion, generosity and devotion. He loved his family deeply and shared much love and laughter with them in their company. Charles' years of dedication allowed him to touch the lives of many.

The widespread prosperity of the 1920s ended abruptly with the stock market crash of 1929 and the great economic depression that followed. The Depression threatened people's jobs, savings and even their homes and would eventually put one quarter of American's out of work. Dr. Henry G. Steinmetz knew all to well about hardships as he and his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Germany early on in his life. He worked hard for his education in America and became a medical doctor in the Brown County, Indiana area, as well as the Medical Director for Logansport State Hospital. It was while attending medical school at Indiana University that he met his wife, Amelia C. Flaitz, who went on to become the first female air traffic controller. Much to their delight, on October 5, 1929, the couple welcomed the birth of their only child, son Charles, who brought great joy to their family.

Charles grew up in numerous locations, hence attending several grade schools and high schools throughout his academic career. Although he wasn't in one place very long, he considered Shelbyville, Indiana his home. Charles' father died at a young age, but he went on to honor him by following in his footsteps as a doctor. Charles graduated from Indiana University in 1946, with an A.B. and Ph.D. and later earned his M.B.A. in 1992. In addition, he also earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati and a M.P.H. (Masters in Public Health) from John Hopkins University.

After graduating college, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1953 to 1956, as a research physiologist at the Holloman AFB Aeromedical Field Laboratory. At the time, the laboratory's program had achieved new world records for manned high altitude balloon flight and for land speed in a manned rocket sled. Charles was also involved with the Apollo Space program during his service.

After the military, Charles pursued a career in physiology and epidemiology in several Medical Director positions with Mobil Oil, Marathon Oil and New York Telephone. In addition, he was the co-author of a landmark paper, which documented the epidemiological evidence of cardiovascular benefits of regular exercise. This paper was published in the special 1984 Olympics issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. In 1987, Charles moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to be the Medical Director at Indiana Bell Telephone Company until he retired in 1992. Aside from being Board Certified by the America Board of Preventive Medicine, Charles belonged to numerous professional organizations, including Fellowships in the American College of Preventative Medicine, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Aerospace Medical Association. He was also a member of Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, Mensa and the International Society of Philosophic Enquiry.

Although Charles had an impressive career with many achievements, it was apparent that his most important job in life was taking care of his family. Supportive and loving, his family was always first in his heart. Charles was a devoted and proud father of four sons, Christopher, Thomas, Curtis and Marc, who were from his first marriage. Later, Charles met his wife, Rosemary Wolfla, on a blind date and they were married on September 17, 1988. For Charles, the births of his sons and his wedding day to Rosemary were the most treasured days in his life. Among his family was also four beloved British short hair cats named Iris, Newt, Archie and Otto. Charles loved to brush them every day and they would amazingly line up in the same order every time to get brushed. Always fit and active, Charles was an avid runner and had completed 117 marathons and ultra marathons (50 miles or greater) in his lifetime. He was good friends with Jim Fix, who was a noted author on running, and even spoke to him the night before he died. Despite his healthy lifestyle, when it came to snacking, Charles like Three Musketeer candy bars.

Charles will be remembered by many in the medical profession for his many achievements throughout his career. But above all else, his family will lovingly remember him as a wonderful husband and father and will be deeply missed.

Dr. Charles H. Steinmetz, 76 of Indianapolis, IN, died on Tuesday, October 25, 2005. Charles is survived by his wife, Rosemary Wolfla Steinmetz; four sons: Christopher A. (Deeta), Thomas M. (Debbie), Curtis G. (Beth) and Marc A. Steinmetz; and five grandchildren: Riley, Jordan, Hilary, Alexander and Amelia Steinmetz. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Nora Chapel, with calling following services. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a personal memory of Charles, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the American Cancer Society or St. Francis Hospital Bone Marrow Research.