Dr. Charles F. Veverka passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009 at his home in Indio, Calif. after a seven-month battle with lung cancer. As he did throughout his almost 78 years, Charlie left this life on his own terms: carefully, quietly, keeping his own counsel, and surrounded by his wife and four children.
Born May 21, 1931 in Omaha, Neb., Charlie (or "Bud" as he was called as a child and young man) lived in and around Omaha. He spent his time hunting; fishing and helping his parents run the family drug store at the corner of 10th Street and Bancroft in Omaha. After graduating from South High School in Omaha, Charlie obtained a B.S. in Medicine after attending both Creighton University and the University of Nebraska. Charlie's plans to start medical school the following term were interrupted by the Korean War, where he served in the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Charlie's long and distinguished career as a medical doctor began after he completed medical school at the University of Nebraska and an internship at St. Luke Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. The University of Nebraska is also where Charlie met his wife of 52 years, Shirlee Leah Boyer Veverka. Go Big Red. Charlie completed his residency training in radiology at the V.A. Hospital and UCLA Medical Center.
After practicing for a few years in Santa Fe, N.M. Charlie moved his family to northern Nevada in 1964, where he became Carson Tahoe Hospital's first full-time radiologist. Later, Charlie formed a private radiology group, Tahoe-Carson Radiology, where he practiced until his retirement in 2002. Medical professionals that have been around long enough will remember Charlie as one of the early group of physicians that worked in the "old hospital" but also helped Carson City's medical community contend with the growing pains experienced during his 40-plus years in practice. Charlie also participated and held offices in many professional organizations including the American Medical Association, Nevada State Medical Society, American College of Radiology (President, NV Chapter), Carson-Douglas County Medical Society (President), Carson Tahoe Hospital (Chief of Staff) and the Carson City Sheriff's Office-Aero Squadron (volunteer pilot).
Charlie loved Nevada and his friends and colleagues in Carson City. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending many weekends hunting ducks in Fallon or larger game with his friends in Ely. Despite his many contributions to patients and friends throughout his life, Charlie considered his obligations as a husband and father as his primary life-pursuit. His kids agree that one could not fashion a more caring or patient father.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 52 years, Shirlee Veverka; his four children Sarah Fletcher (Fresno, Calif.), Martha Veverka (Minden), C. J. Veverka (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Betsy Veverka (San Francisco, Calif.); and his five grandchildren Kelsey Green, Justin Anderson, Jack and Georgia Veverka, and Alex Fletcher. The Veverka family would like to thank those involved in the loving and meticulous care Charlie received at his home in Sun City Shadow Hills, Indio, Calif.
A short service celebrating Charlie's life will be 11 a.m., Saturday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Carson City. An open-house reception from 1-3 p.m. will follow at Adele's Restaurant. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to: Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, 673 S. Stewart St., Carson City, NV 89701.