Dr. Carl O'Neal Page Jr.

Carl O’Neal Page Jr., 72, of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at Lake Region Hospital.

Neal came to Fergus Falls in the autumn of 1974, shortly after marrying his wife, Barbara Jean (Ulrich) Page, whose heart he had won by secretly releasing a puppy named Sedgewidge into her practice room at the University of Minnesota. Over the following decades they raised their two sons, Michael and Eric, in Fergus Falls and became much loved members of the community. Neal's friends and acquaintances will remember him as a kind and gentle man who nonetheless possessed boundless energy and an unquenchable excitement about the beauties and mysteries of life. He had a youthful sense of humor and never tired of playing pranks on his friends. He loved sharing his interests and passions with others, and he was deeply invested as a mentor to many young musicians in the community. He enjoyed playing violin in various orchestras, chamber ensembles, and in musicals and at nursing homes, and he put on many public concerts with his friends. He also loved attending Crossroads Church, and arranging and playing hymns for the services there.

Neal’s other hobbies included, golfing, fly fishing, oil painting, learning, traveling, creating Japanese gardens, and naming as many of his dogs Sedgewidge as his family would allow. He was a member of Phi-Beta Kappa and Rotary.

Neal's early life took place in Spartanburg, SC, where he was born to Carl O’Neal Sr. and Amanda (Shuler) Page on September 22nd, 1941. He attended Spartanburg Senior High School and graduated in 1959. He continued on to Northwestern University, receiving his BA in 1963. In 1968, Neal received his Medical Doctorate at Stanford Medical School.

Neal served in the United States Army as a physician in the Medical Corp at Fort Lee, Virginia and in Korea from September 1970 to September 1972. Upon graduation from medical school he did his residency at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital in Internal Medicine from 1972 to 1974. In 1974 he began his practice as an internist with the Fergus Falls Medical Group and continued until his health caused him to retire in 1998.

Preceding him in death were his parents; father-in-law, Louis E. Ulrich; nephew, Jason Ulrich; brothers-in-law, James Ulrich and Charles Craig.

Neal is survived by his loving family, including his wife of 39 years, Barbara of Fergus Falls; sons, Eric (Jennifer) Page of Mankato, Michael (Stephanie) Page of Fergus Falls; brother, Robert (Judy) Page of Raleigh, NC; sisters, Martha (Jack) Mullikin of Spartanburg, SC, Irene Craig of Gastonia, NC. Also surviving are nieces, nephews and extended family. Your prayers for their peace and comfort would be much appreciated.

Neal’s family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank-you for the excellent care Neal received from Lake Region Healthcare, Fresenius Medical Care, Pioneer Care Short Term Stay, LRH Cancer Care and Research Center and Sanford Healthcare.

Memorials are preferred to: Crossroads Church, Lake Region Healthcare Foundation, and Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Care and Research Center.

Visitation 1 hour prior to service at the church
Service 1 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Crossroads Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy Pastor Ned Eerdmans
Funeral Home Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls