Philip John Dahlberg III Age 71, of Birchwood, WI died Friday, June 21, 2019 at the Marshfield Medical Center in Rice Lake, WI.

He was born on July 31, 1947 in Skokie, IL to Philip and Joyce (Smith) Dahlberg. Philip graduated from the William Horlick High School in Racine, WI in 1965, received his undergraduate degree from UW-Whitewater and then his MD degree from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1972.  He completed 4 years of medical training in Internal Medicine at La Crosse Lutheran Hospital before pursuing a Nephrology fellowship at Mayo Clinic, from which he graduated in 1977. After his fellowship, he joined Gundersen Clinic, where he practiced medicine, including Nephrology and Metabolic Support for the next 27 years.  He received his Masters in Preventive Medicine/Administrative Medicine from UW-Madison in 1994.  During his career he held nearly every leadership position at Gundersen Clinic including Board of Governors, Executive Committee, President of Gundersen Clinic and the first Chief Executive Officer of Gundersen Lutheran Health System.  He had many accomplishments during his tenure including fellowship in the American College of Physicians, merger of Gundersen Clinic and Lutheran Hospital, creation of the Gundersen Health Plan, and designation of Gundersen as the Western Clinical Campus of UW Madison.  He was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa.  Dr. Dahlberg stepped down from the CEO position in 2001, retired from Gundersen, and enrolled in Law School at UW-Madison where he received his J.D. 3 years later. Philip enjoyed fishing, boating and golfing. Philip was a very humble, kind and honest man and will be truly missed by his family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary K. Dahlberg of Birchwood; 4 children, Heather (Doug) Cox of Ankeny, Iowa, Philip (Amy) Dahlberg IV of Jackson, WI, Lewis (Tara) Dahlberg of Sun Prairie, WI and Mark (Carolyn) Dahlberg of Fredericksburg, VA; 14 grandchildren; an exchange student, Maria of Spain; his mother, Joyce Dahlberg of Milwaukee, WI; a sister, Jennifer (Joe) Lindl of Milwaukee, WI. He was preceded in death by a brother, Steve Dahlberg; and his father, Philip Dahlberg II.

Private family services will be held. Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, WI is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials appreciated to the Dahlberg Scholarship in Nursing at the Gundersen Medical Foundation 1836 South Ave., LaCrosse, WI 54601.

Last Update: Jun 27, 2019 10:35 am CDT