December 09 2000
Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday, December 09, 2000
Giles A. Koelsche M.D., 92, died peacefully on December 6, 2000 at the Forum at Desert Harbor in Peoria, Arizona. Born in Ashland, Oregon and raised in Loma Linda, California, he graduated from Pacific Union College and received his M.D. from the College of Medical Evangelists (Loma Linda University) at the age of 21. He went on to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Medicine from the University of Minnesota.
As their longest tenured physician, he was on the staff of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for over 40 years. His specialty was Internal Medicine and his sub specialty, Allergy.
He was involved in the research and development of Cortisone with Drs. Edward Kendall and Phillip Hench who received the Nobel Prize for this achievement. He was an internationally respected expert in Allergy and among his many distinguished affiliations, he was President of the American College of Allergists, on the executive committee of the International Association of Allergologists, a Fellow of the American College of Allergists, and secretary of the science and educational council of the Allergy Foundation of America.
He had numerous publications on the management of hay fever, asthma, and chronic hives, immunologic problems that may be involved in organ transplantation, factors which may lead to the development of antibodies to organs with subsequent damage to them, and the role that immunologic mechanisms may play in the development of and resistance to cancer. He is listed in the World Who's Who in Science.
Additionally, he was a lifelong competitive chess player who ranked not far below Master level. He played by correspondence, including e-mail, to age 90.
He also enjoyed reciting poetry, his favorite being the “Pied Piper of Hamelin”, a 20 minute recitation which he did by memory well into his late 80's.
Dr. Koelsche was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mary Allen Koelsche, and his son, Edward Giles Koelsche, He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Etcheverry of Scottsdale, his grand-daughter, Wendy Sue Heffernan, and grandson, Steven Giles Koelsche, both of California and seven great grandchildren. A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, 9 December, 2000, 1:00 p.m. at Sunland Mortuary Chapel, 15826 Del Webb Blvd. in Sun City, AZ, with a reception to follow at the Forum at Desert Harbor. Memorial contributions can be made to Arizona's Children Foundation at 2833 N. Third St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 or Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55904.
